Tragedy as 13-month-old toddler is shot dead in his stroller by teenage robber in front of mother

A distraught mother as told how she pleaded with young robbers to spare her toddler's life before they shot him dead as he slept in his stroller.

Sherry West was pushing her 13-month-old son Antonio yards from their home in Brunswick, Georgia, early yesterday moing when she was approached by two African-American boys.

She told how one of them, who looked about 15, demanded money from her and threatened to kill her if she didn't give him any.  She told him she didn't have any.

'He said: "Well, I'm going to kill your baby", and I said "Please don't kill my baby."

Ms West added: 'I put my arms over my baby and then he shoved me and then he shot my baby right in the head.'

Ms West began CPR on Antonio but it was in vain and the infant, who had been sleeping when he was shot, died at the scene of the 9am attack.

The child's mother suffered a bullet wound to her leg which needed hospital treatment but was allowed home soon afterwards.

Antonio's father Louis Santiago said he wished he had been there to protect his son.

He told CNN: 'He was so special - he had the bluest, bluest eyes.'

Police are investigating the attack, which took place in a residential neighborhood, but have not found a weapon.

The robbers are said to be African-American, with one aged about 13-15 years and the other slightly younger.  The elder one, who shot the infant, is of thick build with curly hair, while the younger one is aged 10-12.

They fled on foot, taking nothing.

Ms West said she only realised the gun was real when she saw that the youth had shot her child dead.

'He shot my baby right in the head': Antonio's mother was pushed away when she tried to protect her son

Scene of the shooting: Antonio's uptued stroller still lies on its side in the residential area of Brunswick

Antonio's father Louis Santiago wept as he described his regret he had not been there to protect his son

Antonio's father Louis clutches his son's pacifier as he tells a reporter about his murdered toddler

At a news conference after the attack, Mayor Bryan Thompson said: 'This is obviously just a terrible day in the city of Brunswick made even more so by the senseless killing of a young child, and it appears perpetrated by children themselves.

'I would like to stress and plead with people in our community right now, people who are hearing my voice and seeing us standing here, you know something about this crime.'

Fox30jax.com is reporting that the Brunswick Police Department is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who helps them find the offenders.