Investigation into weekend death of a 17 month old child continues

A young Tulsa mother's grief. Marva Alexander's 17-month-old son was shot and killed this weekend while sitting in his car seat. She speaks out about her loss to News on 6 crime reporter Lori

Monday, June 27th 2005, 10:44 am

By: News On 6

A young Tulsa mother's grief. Marva Alexander's 17-month-old son was shot and killed this weekend while sitting in his car seat. She speaks out about her loss to News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright.

Deontae was a beautiful baby and the apple of his big brother's eye. As he grew, so did his smile. Since his first birthday in January, he was learning to say words like ball and bye-bye. Marva Alexander: "Me and Deontae went everywhere together, everywhere. Everyone would say Marva can't go 'cause she's got Deontae. I always had him with me and I'll always still have him with me."

Deontae was in his mother's car this weekend when she stopped at a home on Mohawk Boulevard where she used to live. Tulsa Police say she and Eric Rentie[pictured-right] got into an argument and Rentie fired a couple of shots at Marva's car, one shot hit the baby in the head. "I played it over and over in my mind, thinking there was something I could've done. I wish he was here for me to kiss him over and over. I'm going to see him again. He's watching over all of us and he's in a better place."

Rentie turned himself in and says he didn't mean to hit the child. Witnesses say he knew the baby was in the car before he fired the shot. Now, he faces a murder charge and family and friends must come to terms with his loss. Family friend Samico McKinney: "He was just a happy, innocent baby, just a big butterball who was always smiling and just playing."

Friend Jamica Ferrell: "When it's the life of a child, you don't have to know them, each life is precious."

Deontaeâ€™s cousin Megan Brown: "I want people to know this child was loved and will be missed."

Eric Rentie was just in court a few weeks ago, charged with domestic assault and battery, but, the case was dismissed because the key witness against him didn't show up to testify.

Rentie was charged with pointing a deadly weapon a year ago May and again, the key witness for the prosecution refused to show up for court, so that case was also dropped.