Dominique Billips arrested, accused of shooting 7-month-old boy in Philadelphia’s Holmesburg neighborhood

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Authorities have identified the suspect who was arrested for shooting a 7-month-old baby Thursday night in Philadelphia.

Police arrested Dominique Billips, 28, for allegedly shooting the toddler in the 4000 block of Meridian Street in the city’s Holmesburg neighborhood.

Disturbing video obtained by Action News shows the gunman approaching and opening fire on a baby and his parents outside a home.

“You knew they had a stroller, what makes you want to walk up to someone with a stroller and shoot them?” asked Philadelphia police Lt. Denis Rosenbaum.

Police said the baby was injured in the leg by one of the bullets. When officers arrived at the scene, the parents were nowhere to be found.

“The mother and father who initially went to the hospital left the scene out of fear of police due to outstanding arrest warrants,” Rosenbaum said.

Authorities were later able to interview the parents and were told of an argument that had taken place in the 7900 block of Frankford Avenue before the shooting.

At the scene, police said they were able to get a better view of their suspect thanks to the company’s surveillance video.

Police say the argument appears to have stemmed from a $100 drug debt.

“One of the detectives from another squad had recognized one of the women involved in another shooting she was the victim of in 2022. It happened in the 4200 block of Rhawn Street in August of 2022,” Rosenbaum explained.

Philadelphia police said they received a tip providing the name of the offender, which also matched the name of the shooting victim the detective believed to be.

The Highway Patrol was able to assist police in locating the vehicle also seen on surveillance video, which was known to be used by Billips.

Police found the vehicle in the 5900 block of Loretto Street, where they arrested a woman and reportedly learned Billips was at a home in the 1300 block of Van Kirk.

“The suspect was asked to step outside. She did so and surrendered to the highway patrol officers. She was taken into custody without incident,” Rosenbaum said.

Police said arrangements were being made for the baby to be released to his family by CHOP.

Police said previous arrest warrants for the parents were not related to the violence.

“It’s sad, you see she points the gun at the baby’s mother who is also a minor, and she shoots. Thank goodness she missed, a 7-month-old baby may not remember it, but that story will always be there,” Rosenbaum explained.

Billips has since been charged with aggravated assault, violation of the Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA) and other related offenses.