A 27-year-old Arizona man, Adam Joseph Montoya, has been taken into custody on charges of second-degree murder and child abuse, both with a domestic violence specification. The charges stem from the alleged fatal shooting of his 13-month-old daughter with an AR-style rifle, an act reportedly witnessed by the child’s mother. Montoya was arrested earlier this month, according to a statement from the authorities.
The incident took place on February 3, 2025, in a residential neighborhood of Show Low, Arizona, about 175 miles southwest of Phoenix, as reported by the Navajo County Attorney’s Office. The statement alleges that Montoya fired an AR-15 rifle at his infant daughter in the presence of the child’s mother, resulting in the child’s death.
Emergency services, including the Show Low Police Department and the Timber Mesa Fire Department’s medical personnel, responded to a 911 call about a shooting at the residence. Upon their arrival, they discovered the baby, who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound. The infant was immediately transported to Summit Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.
Despite the best efforts of the medical team at the hospital, the baby girl succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival. As the investigation is ongoing, the prosecutors and police involved in the case have not released any additional details about the shooting or a potential motive.
Following his arrest, Montoya was transported to the Navajo County Jail. As of Thursday afternoon, he remained in custody with a bond set at $1 million, as per jail records reviewed by Law&Crime. Montoya is scheduled to appear in Division I of the Navajo County Superior Court at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025, for a pretrial conference and a hearing on his potential release.
Montoya has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges and is being represented by the Navajo County Public Defender’s Office, as reported by The Associated Press. The prosecutors have emphasized that the indictment only contains allegations and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.