Southern Arizona father kills infant son before shooting self, deputies say

TUCSON, AZ (AZFamily/) — The Pima County Sheriff's Department says a 19-year-old father shot and killed his nine-month-old son before trying to take his own life.

Around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, deputies responded to a call involving someone making suicidal threats in a neighborhood near Shannon Road and Royal Palm Drive in Tucson. Authorities arrived, where they learned Gabriel Huerta had made suicidal comments to family members before leaving the home with his son in a red Ford Fusion.

During the search for Huerta, deputies learned Huerta was potentially armed and expressed intentions to harm both his child and himself.

Huerta's car was found near Himmel Park , and deputies soon spotted him. After ignoring commands, the sheriff's office says he ran off toward a nearby alley.

Moments later, they heard gunshots.

Deputies found Huerta suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They also found his son, who had been shot multiple times.

The child died from his injuries at the hospital. Meanwhile, Huerta remains unresponsive and in critical condition.

The investigation is ongoing.