Cops: Grandfather shoots, kills man holding infant over custody dispute
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Authorities say a 61-year-old man has been arrested in Ohio after fatally shooting the father of his 3-week-old grandson while the father held the child.
The shooting occurred Monday night during a domestic dispute in Youngstown. Twenty-seven-year-old Charles Pargo died at the scene.
Louis Littlejohn, of Liberty Township, is charged with aggravated murder. He has a court hearing Wednesday afternoon.
CBS affiliate WKBN reports that Youngstown police say the shooting occurred after police responded to an argument between the two men over custody of the infant. Pargo had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend, who is the child's mother, and the woman left the house, the station reports.
The woman's parents returned and attempted to retrieve the baby from Pargo. Police say the dispute appeared to have been resolved and that everyone had agreed Pargo would keep the child.
As the officers and the grandparents were leaving, Littlejohn allegedly went back into the home and shot Pargo as he held the baby. The child had blood on his clothing, but wasn't injured.
Police say Littlejohn then walked outside, dropped a gun and surrendered.
"We have a suspect shot right in front of us....we have a baby here too," the officers are heard saying in police audio requesting back up.
Capt. Brad Blackburn of Youngstown Police told the station the officers were taken off guard when what was at first a routine call turned deadly, but responded quickly.
"You just never know. It's the nature of the work, it's unpredictable," Blackburn said.
Court records don't indicate if Littlejohn has an attorney. He faces charges including aggravated murder.
