Man headed to jail for attack on baby

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A North Tonawanda man will do hard time for slashing the throat of his ex-girlfriend's six-month-old daughter.

The man who used a baby as a human shield and who would eventually cut that baby's throat stood in State Supreme Court.

Jeffrey Hernandez's other victim, his former girlfriend, was also in the courtroom, but did not want to be on camera. The two 19-year-olds were involved in a verbal altercation over the summer that escalated.

Hernandez strangled her so hard she passed out. Moments after regaining consciousness, she dialed 911. While dialing, Hernandez pulled her 6-month-old baby girl from her arms. When police arrived, Hernandez was found wielding a knife and holding onto the baby, but then he put the knife to the child's throat and refused to hand the infant over.

Police Officer Thomas Brown fired his stun gun at Hernandez just as he began to cut the baby's neck. He dropped to the floor, but officials say he also stabbed the baby in the back as he fell.

"They were both 19-years-old and I think things spun out of control a little bit. Jeffrey is very sorry for what happened. He's most thankful that the child is ok and he's going spend almost the next ten years in prison because he accepted responsibility for what he did wrong that night," said defense attorney Nelson Torre.