West Virginia Mother Charged After Slamming Infant Face Down Following Night of Fighting, Deputies Say

RALEIGH COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA — A West Virginia mother has been arrested after deputies say she slammed her infant child face down onto the floor following a volatile night marked by physical fighting and escalating arguments, leaving the baby with visible injuries and prompting a disturbing statement from a young witness: “Mommy did it.”

Authorities identified the suspect as Shaniqua Gibson, 34, who is charged with child neglect with risk of death or injury, according to Raleigh County jail records.

Deputies Respond to Early-Morning Child Abuse Call

The incident unfolded during the early morning hours of December 21, when deputies with the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched just before 3 a.m. to a residence following a report of child abuse and neglect, according to information cited by regional outlet Lootpress.

When deputies arrived, they spoke with the complaining party, identified as the father of the infant, who described a chaotic and violent series of events leading up to the alleged assault.

Night of Fighting Between Adults Escalates

According to the father, several friends were present at the home earlier in the night when Gibson became involved in a physical altercation with another woman. He told deputies the two women were pulling each other’s hair and appeared to be “trying to kill each other,” with authorities noting that Gibson was the primary aggressor.

The man said he intervened, managed to break up the fight, and convinced both women to leave the residence, believing the situation had been defused.

However, deputies say the violence did not end there.

Mother Returns, Confrontation Continues

The father told law enforcement that Gibson later returned to the residence the same night, and another heated confrontation erupted in the driveway. He reportedly believed Gibson had been in a bad mood throughout the entire day, which he said may have contributed to what happened next.

Sometime after the confrontation outside, the man went upstairs and found his 1-year-old child crying.

Infant Allegedly Slammed Face Down

According to deputies, the crying infant triggered a violent response. Authorities allege that Gibson grabbed the baby, slammed the child onto the floor, and held them there face down.

Deputies observed visible abrasions on the infant’s nose, injuries they said were consistent with the father’s account of the assault.

Four-Year-Old Witness Identifies Mother

The father also told deputies that the couple’s 4-year-old daughter witnessed the incident. In a moment that authorities described as deeply troubling, deputies said the child later sat up in bed during their presence and clearly stated:

“Mommy did it.”

Investigators documented the statement as part of their ongoing case.

Investigation Ongoing

Gibson was taken into custody and charged with child neglect with risk of death or injury. As of the latest update, no bail or court date information has been released.

Authorities said the investigation remains active, and additional charges could be considered depending on the outcome of medical evaluations and witness interviews.

Authorities Emphasize Child Safety

Law enforcement officials stressed the seriousness of the allegations, noting that infants are especially vulnerable to severe or fatal injuries when subjected to force. Deputies also highlighted the importance of reporting domestic violence and child abuse concerns immediately.

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