Christopher Glass, 17

Died March 1, 2011

Christopher Glass, a 17-year-old black man, was shot and killed by sheriff deputies Tuesday, March 1, in the 500 block of East Avenue P-14 in Palmdale, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Deputies shot and killed the teenager after a short pursuit because he was behaving in a threatening manner toward them, sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said.

Sheriff’s homicide Lt. Nick Tippings said deputies at the scene reported that Glass charged toward them while armed with a knife.

The chain of events began shortly before noon when deputies received a call reporting a chiild abduction. Investigators learned that a baby, later identified by coroner's officials as Christopher Glass Jr., a 6-month-old black boy, had been taken from a babysitter. Glass, who was the father, had told the boy's mother by cellphone that he would hurt the child.

An Amber Alert was issued, a sheriff’s official confirmed Wednesday. Deputies spotted Glass’ car about 3:30 p.m. As they began to chase him, they saw the teenager motioning as if he was stabbing the baby as he drove, officials said.

After a three-minute chase, Glass’ car hit a building and he escaped on foot, they said. Deputies found the wounded baby inside the mangled car and rushed him to a hospital, they said. He did not survive.

Other deputies caught up with the teenager as he was trying to break into a home. Deputies shot at him, but he was able to get inside the home and deputies shot again, officials said. The teenager was killed.

Nishida said there were people inside the home at the time but Glass did not threaten them.

Glass' family members told KABC-TV Channel 7 on Tuesday they were shocked.

"He loved that baby," said Denise Hudson, who was identified as a relative of Glass. "There were times when I would visit my aunt; he would be holding the baby, feeding him, changing the diaper. He was a great dad. That's why it's a shock."

Counselors at Highland High School in Palmdale, where Glass was a senior, provided grief counseling to students who knew the teen, said a school official who declined to give her name.

— Robert Faturechi and Alexandra Zavis