An upstate New York man has been charged with murder after ne fired a crossbow at his wife but struck the couple’s 3-week-old daughter instead, killing her.

Patrick D. Proefriedt, 26, argued with his wife early Monday morning and fired the weapon at her while she was holding the infant, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office said. The bolt hit the infant in the upper torso and exited near the armpit, striking the baby’s mom in the chest.

“Proefriedt allegedly removed the bolt and attempted to stop the woman from calling 911, then fled the scene in a red 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck before responding deputies arrived,” the sheriff’s office said. He left the crossbow behind.

Deputies attempted life-saving measures when they arrived and then carried the little girl, identified as Eleanor Carey, out to paramedics, who pronounced her dead. The baby’s mother was taken to Wilson Hospital for treatment.

With assistance from New York State Police and Chenango County sheriff’s deputies, Broome County deputies set up a perimeter and set about searching for Proefiedt. They found him hiding in the woods less than a mile from the Colesville home after he’d gotten his truck stuck in the mud.

Proefriedt was charged with second degree murder, attempted second degree murder, and criminal contempt for violating an order of protection.

“This is one of the most heartbreaking and senseless crimes committed in this community in recent memory,” Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said. “Our thoughts are with the family of this innocent 3-week-old girl, Eleanor Carey.”

The sheriff’s office said that Proefriedt has a history of domestic violence against his wife along with the active order of protection.

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[Featured image: Patrick Proefriedt/Broome County Sheriff’s Office]