By Flynn Nicholls
US News Reporter
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A father tried to kill his 4-month-old baby by feeding the infant gasoline, according to police.
Edgar James Bridgemon, 24, of Paris, Texas, has confessed to administering the poison, said a police department statement.
After a distressing emergency call, officers were dispatched to a home on Pine Bluff Street in the small city located in Lamar County, approximately 110 miles northeast of Dallas.
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Police spokesperson Captain Terry Bull told TV station KXII that officers were met by the child's mother, who told them she believed her partner, Bridgemon, had intentionally given their baby gasoline to drink.
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The mother handed the baby to the officers, and as the officers assessed the situation, Bridgemon attempted to flee on foot on Saturday.
After brief chase, Bridgemon was apprehended about a block away from the home. He was taken into custody and later confessed to the crime, admitting that he had given the baby gasoline with the deliberate intention of ending the child's life, according to the statement released by the police.
The infant was immediately rushed to Paris Regional Medical Center, where medical staff began initial treatment. However, due to the severity of the poisoning, the child was later transferred to a different hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for more advanced care.
Newsweek has asked authorities for an update on the child's condition.
Bridgemon now faces charges including attempted capital murder, which is classified as a first-degree felony in Texas.
Under state law, attempted capital murder involves a deliberate and premeditated attempt to take a life, and if convicted, Bridgemon could face a life sentence.
Attempted murder of a child is considered an aggravating factor.
In addition to the attempted murder charge, he was also charged with evading arrest, further complicating his legal situation.
Bridgemon is currently being held at the Lamar County Jail with bond set at $255,000.
The case remains under investigation by local authorities, and no further details have been released at this time.
Newsweek contacted Paris Police Department via email for further updates but did not hear back in time for publication.
This article will be updated with further information and reaction when available.
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