Child shot, killed by father in Magnolia neighborhood

Father accused of shooting, killing his 9-month-old child

The man told detectives that he was on PCP at the time of the shooting and blamed "demons."

SEATTLE - Seattle Police homicide detectives are investigating the death of a 9-month-old child who was shot in the head by their father in the Magnolia neighborhood.

The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the 3000 block of 21st Ave. W, just west of the Interbay Athletic Complex.

Officers initially responded to a nearby block, where two people reported that a man had fired at them, but missed, and the bullets hit nearby parked cars.

Both victims identified the suspected shooter as 35-year-old Dion Montgomery.

As Montgomery was being taken into custody, 911 got a call about a woman running outside with a gun, someone had shot her baby.

When officers made contact with the woman, they learned that Montgomery was her husband. She told officers that she was in the bathroom of their apartment when she heard a gunshot. She said she asked her husband what that was and he told her it was a "blank" round. She left the bathroom, saw the gun in his pocket and took it from him, she told officers.

Montgomery left the apartment and his wife went in to check on their child, when she saw the horrific scene, court documents said.

Unfortunately, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.

She ran outside looking for help after seeing her baby shot.

Both parents were taken into custody for questioning.

The child's mother broke down in tears, and said that Montgomery routinely carries a gun on him, and he had it on him that day, court documents said.

She admitted they both smoked marijuana the day of the shooting, but was unaware that Montgomery also admitted to police that he smoked PCP before the shooting, and blamed his actions on "demons."

According to the National Library of Medicine, Phencyclidine (or PCP, "angel dust") is an infamous hallucinogenic sought for its ability to induce the illusion of euphoria, omnipotence, superhuman strength, and social and sexual prowess.

Montgomery's wife also told police that he periodically gets a "weird look in his eyes" and he acts differently then, so she knows to stay away from him when he gets like that, according to court documents. She told police he tried to kill her one time before.

However, his wife said she was unaware of any diagnosed mental health issues for Montgomery and said normally he is a great father who has never hurt their child before.

Montgomery was booked into King County Jail for first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Montgomery has 16 prior arrests and 14 felony charges, including theft, assault, burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Bail has been set at $5 million.