LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Gunfire between a baby's father and the mother's boyfriend led to Louisville's latest deadly shooting, right in front of a one-year-old girl.
The victim's family spoke to WLKY about a life cut short, and the need to avoid even more violence.
The baby's father is still recovering at University Hospital, from being shot in the shoulder. Louisville Metro Police still have not released his name.
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The man who died was identified as 19-year-old Rick Wydman, Jr.
"He had a beautiful life. Although it was very short, it was still beautiful," said Wydman's aunt, Mona Brooks. "Beautiful, outgoing, fun-loving, you couldn't help but love him. He was a great person."
But at about 4 a.m. Tuesday, Brooks was awakened by a phone call saying her nephew had been shot to death.
"I was devastated, I thought it was an awful thing," said Brooks.
"I was just over here the other day, talking to him, joking with him. I don't know why it had to come to this," said Miqueal Wells, the brother of Wydman's girlfriend.
The shooting happened overnight inside a unit at the 550 Apartments near Ninth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard.
Police said that's where Wydman lived with his girlfriend and her one-year-old baby girl.
"He considered that child as his own and he took care of them," said Brooks.
But family members said Wydman had a history of conflict with the little girl's father.
"They'd be fighting over the baby because the baby daddy wanted to see the baby, but he hasn't done nothing for my niece since she was born," said Wells.
And police said it was the girl's father who fired the fatal shots at Wydman, after both men pulled guns on each other, with the girlfriend and one-year-old looking on.
"Rick, he took up the spot as being the father. Now my niece don't have no father at all," said Wells.
"It's just unfortunate that sometimes, people's anger and jealousy get the best of them," said Brooks.
Police won't comment on a possible motive, but Brooks said that's a moot point.
"It doesn't really matter what happened or why he did it. The only thing he needs to know is this was not necessary, this could have been avoided," said Brooks.
And she doesn't want one death to lead to any others.
"We don't want any retaliation, we don't want any hate. We just want to be able to bury him in a loving way," said Brooks.
Police expect to file a murder charge against the baby's father in the coming days.
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