He's got a gun pointed at baby's head. Drop the gun! Drop the Go go go go go go. Okay. Okay. That's that's it. I'm pulling over. I'm pulling over actually right now. And and and and the next road and then wait for me and then, okay? Shots fired. Shots fired. Shots fired. Officers are pushed into a daunting ultimatum when a wanted predator threatens the life of a 2-year-old unless he is allowed to walk free. He he's dead set on killing the baby with that gun. He said if we don't pull back, he's going to kill the baby. What follows is a harrowing uncertain pursuit lasting over an hour leading up to the moment when the officers must make their riskiest final call. Gun to baby's head. Gun to baby's head. He's out of the car. Out of the driver door. He did right at us. Gun's pointed at us. Talks good. We got good communication. On the afternoon of February 17th, 2022, tensions arise up in Washington, Utah where a woman is forced to drive at gunpoint by a wanted ex-convict, Oscar Alcantara. Officers are tipped about his whereabouts, but Oscar has escaped law enforcement multiple times before and is trying to do the same thing again. This time, however, the situation is about to take a horrendous turn. As the chase continues, the woman eventually pulls over after multiple warnings. Oscar! But things turn wild when officers learn the woman wasn't alone. Her 2-year-old baby is still inside and nobody is ready for what Oscar intends to do next. Hey, he's got the baby. He's holding it. I can see him. I can see him. He's got the kid. He has a weapon, homie. He's trying to get to the front seat. He's trying to get to the Hey, he's got the gun. He's got a gun. He's got a gun. He's got a gun. He's got a gun. Lady, I'm going to He's got a gun pointed at baby's head. Drop the Gun! Drop the Oscar takes the baby hostage and flees making his intentions clear. This is now a full-scale kidnapping, but before officers can plan their next move, everything turns upside down with a 911 call from Oscar, the kidnapper himself. 911, what's the address of the emergency? Yeah, I have a kid. Stop the car or these officers will shoot. Or I will shoot myself and shoot the baby. Okay, and where are you at? Right now I'm driving. The cops are behind me. They know who I am. Tell them to stop me or I will shoot that baby and shoot myself. You You kidnapped this baby? Yes, ma'am. And where did you kidnap the baby from? Tell them to tell them to stop now and the baby won't The officers The officers are not going to hurt you, okay? Pull over and let the baby go. I will shoot this baby. I told you that. >> Okay. Okay, I'm going to I'm going to transfer you over to one of the officers and she's going to talk you through this. Hold on 1 second for me. Oscar delivers the coldest ultimatum to the authorities putting his and the baby's life at fatal risk. A senior negotiating officer is quickly appointed to talk to the kidnapper and diffuse the danger. Hello. Are you there? Can you hear me? Hello. Hi. Is this Oscar? >> Hey, tell them to tell them to stop. Tell them to tell them to stop. Tell them to stop. Maybe I'll drive now. I'll stay safe. Tell them to stop. You're going to your friend's house? Okay, let me ask you Yeah, tell them to stop following me. I don't want to hurt the baby. I don't want to hurt I don't want to hurt I just want to drop them off. That's why you're not seeing catch me later. Okay. This lady I don't want to hurt nobody. I just don't want to go back to prison. Oscar is in a volatile state right now. He's desperate and panicked. But the negotiating officer needs to shift the approach toward a calmer one. I'm I'm I'm leaving. I'm going to get you to pull over and go home and you guys can find me later. You will get me back the baby. Okay, so you're not going to hurt the baby? No, I'm not. I don't want to hurt nobody. I just don't want to go back to prison. And they keep following me, lady. I'm driving too fast. This is only a year-old baby. I got kids. I'm only trying to get away. Yeah, you just want to get away. Okay. That's it. Hang on for a minute. Okay, let me For now. Okay, Oscar. Let me stay on the line with me. I'm going to just talk to this officer. Just a second. I don't want to stop. They got cops behind me. Please, lady. I'm going to start shooting. I don't want that, lady. I'm begging you guys. I'm begging you guys. Oscar is not listening and is shutting down any useful conversation. Officers understand Oscar's demand to be let go and under different circumstances, they might have considered it. But with the child still in custody, ending the pursuit is not an option. He's about to get on I-15 south. Meanwhile, Oscar is accelerating dangerously on Interstate 15 making things worse. And despite the overwhelming police presence, he is somehow managing to be the one in control for now. Hey Oscar, listen to me for just a second, okay? So, I understand you're frustrated, right? I'm I'm I'm I thought I got to pick my lady and I don't want to shoot this baby. I'm losing sight of him in the traffic. He's at 100. Looks like he just He still has a cell phone at his hand. Just took the Dixie Drive exit, exit 5. Lots of guys on him. Oscar is getting away and more units are being arranged to join the pursuit. Until now, only the negotiating officer can make a shift and she moves on to give Oscar a sincere unobjectionable offer. Hey Oscar. >> I can't go to nowhere, lady. I thought I could. Well, Oscar, if you pull over if you pull over, we won't follow you. Pull over and run away from the We We We We just care We just care about the baby. Listen. Listen. I'm so sorry. You guys are following me like everything is all right in your head, okay? I'm sorry. So, if you pull over and you run, we will not follow you. Okay. You guys are putting more on me, lady. Okay, but Okay, but listen to me, Oscar. We will not follow you. Okay. We Okay, that's it. I'm done. I'm leaving it up to you. Oscar. Is it possible that If Oscar. Can you pull over and maybe just push the baby out and then take off? I said it. You didn't get to do it. You said No, of course not. I'm just trying It's not Okay. Okay. That's that's it. I'm pulling over I'm pulling over actually right now. And and and and the next road and then wait for me and then, okay? That's it, lady. I don't want to talk no more. You guys always do what I ask. You want I'm going to do it to you right now. But Oscar's irrational thinking sends the cops offer down the drain. And soon, he is seen blindly crossing lanes to the left frightening officers with just how far he's willing to escape. Officers cannot agree to Oscar's demands with this kind of behavior. And he shortly proves why they are right not to trust him. I don't want to talk no more. You guys always do what I ask. You want I'm going to do it to you right now. Like I'm sorry, you Hey, I'm trying to come up with Oscar. Oscar. Oscar fires shots back at the cop on the motorcycle. Luckily, no one is struck. But the message is clear. Oscar is willing to die and kill today. Yep. I did, Oscar. Okay. I can Oscar. Negotiator still online with the guy. How's the kid? Affirmative. She's still talking. She's hysterical. Um but not making any progress. Thank you. We're up to 80 mph on Highway 19. Officer's fear for the baby intensifies and they try to reason with Oscar one more time. A major gap exists between what Oscar wants and what officers are willing to offer. Officers want Oscar to drop the baby off first before they terminate the chase, but Oscar wants them to stop right away. Neither side is willing to yield. As a result, the negotiation for the baby's life reaches an impasse. Hey Oscar, but my but I'm worried about the child. So, I don't care uh we don't care about arresting you today. We don't even want you today, okay? But, I care about your child your child. Okay. So, where are you if can you tell us where you're going to drop it off and then we we just need once we make sure that the baby's All right, so tell you what. So, if you go to the house in Dixie Downs, okay? Then, we'll have the units pull back till you drop it off, okay? Okay. Yeah, so we can do that. Okay, so then, we'll have the units pull back till you drop it off, okay? Okay. Oscar hangs up the call and leaves the situation in a desperate state for two concerning reasons. One, officers can no longer verify the baby's well-being. And second, the stretch of the highway is narrowing and Oscar is unknowingly entering the state of Arizona through the vast Mojave Desert where things can take very unexpected turns as not everything will fall under officers' jurisdiction. He's got a gun. He's not going to give up that baby because that is his token. And he just said if we don't stop following, he's going to shoot the baby. So, he's just going to kill him. He he's dead set on killing the baby with that gun. He said if we don't pull back, he's going to kill the baby. No. Can't let the baby go, but at the same time we're we're just stuck in a rock and a hard place. The only thing is if we can make contact somehow Yeah, he's not answering at all. >> talk to him. Officers remain on his trail, but are practically powerless to take any strong action. They continue trying to reach Oscar and after 15 stressful minutes, Oscar finally comes to his senses and calls back. Hello? Hello? Oscar? Oscar? Yeah, I stay with me. I you hung up on me. Okay, I'm listening. Yeah. And I know you don't want to hurt the baby, Oscar. I know that. Okay, so if you stop right now and put the baby out, okay? We'll we will not follow you, okay? Officers finally have a moment of relief as Oscar agrees to pull over and release the baby. All units back up a little baby. Bring the boy down and set the child out of the car. So, let's try and give him a little distance. >> And you report it ready to the police. I pull over already, okay? Okay. Okay, we're listening. Is he pulled Okay, let me hear him. Is he pulled over? Let me ask. In the middle of the highway, an arrangement is made for securing the baby and things finally look like settling. But, at this exact moment, an unforeseen twist changes everything that nobody is prepared for. We've got traffic coming right into our stop. The Mojave County deputies join the pursuit from the opposite direction totally unaware that Oscar has agreed to give up the baby. I don't know. Holy Mojave I just saw him. He's got a gun up to the kid's head. He's stopping in the middle of the road on 91. Okay, Mojave County unit is about 20 yd off. Get that guy out of there. A Mojave deputy gets too close to Oscar. Okay, so they have set Okay, they Okay, you've got Okay, so we're not If you let the baby out, Oscar, Okay, let the baby out. Can you hear me? I'm here. If you He's out of the car. He's out of the car. He's out of the car. He's got a gun to the baby's head. Gun to baby's head. He's out of the car, out of the driver door. Okay. Okay, baby's down. Copy that. Officers hope Oscar will leave him on the roadside. Go. Holy Drill one over, brother. Any update on shutting northbound down? Are we still got innocents coming in? Just when it seems the nightmare is finally ending, Oscar changes his mind this time for the worst outcome. Hey Oscar. Just stay on the phone. Okay. It ended. The call ended. Get the Arizona cops out of the way. >> [screaming] >> Get over to the right. He's moved to the front of the car. Child's back in his arms. Child's back in his arms, yes. Okay. He's walking out of view uh further either south down the highway or into the shrubbery. We do not have line of sight on suspect. Last saw baby still in arms. Oscar takes the baby into the desert on foot and heads toward a residential area at the edge of the desert leaving the officers no other choice but to continue the chase. I see him. I got a I got a visual on him. He's still holding the kid. Right by his head. But, Oscar is making sure the baby stays between him and the officers leaving no room for a clear shot. If we get the sniper here, we'll have a shot. Stand, go to the go to the RV. Nice and high. Okay. Go. Our sniper will de- be deployed in 60 seconds. The officer repositions the sniper on top of a truck. Sniper shot at it. He's running north. Yes, immediate action. Officers are unsure whether the shot was a success or not. They immediately head toward Oscar. Okay, he's down. He's down. Unknown if that's us. Be careful. He's still talking. Yes, be careful. Oscar, right? Within moments, they learn that Oscar is still active. He's up. He's up. He's up. He's up. Oscar! Suspect is up and running. Oscar! Stop. We don't want to hurt you. Hold up! >> [screaming] >> Oscar, we want to help you. Come on. Let us help you. Gun's pointed right at us. Gun's pointed at us. Oscar is pointing his gun at the officers who don't want him to make a wrong move and panic. Hey, you're closest. You think you can get Yes, sir. That's you, brother. Oscar! Put the baby down, buddy. I'll come talk to you. Just put the baby down. You've got my word. I'll come talk to you peacefully, okay? He's He's fired twice. Hey hey, just relax, okay, buddy? Just relax. We're going to come talk to you, okay? If he's pinned down. Yeah, I agree. Keep him where he's at. The sniper's deployed, but Oscar is hiding behind one of the bushes reducing his visibility. Hence, officers take a drone's view to lock Oscar's position. Sir, I can barely see you, but that's the problem is you're sitting down behind some bush. If you stand up and start walking towards me, I'll walk towards you. I'll meet you in the middle, okay? Watch. Tell him if he'll we guarantee his safety. Oscar, if you surrender peacefully, buddy, I guarantee your safety. Promise you. But Oscar continues to issue threats, still refusing to surrender. Officers must set their target quickly, as only the sniper can save the baby from the worst. He's perfect. Can you see the right? >> Yes, I can. Where's your hands? That's it. You got to get down. Hey, he sees you. The sniper charges as low as he can, while another officer continues to talk to Oscar to help the sniper pinpoint his exact location. Oscar, I said you don't have a gun. Stand up. Okay, Oscar, Oscar, I'm coming out. I'm coming out. Okay, come out. Hands up. >> Hands up and come out, buddy. Oscar, I'm coming Okay, we don't want to shoot you. Just come out. I'm scared. I I know. I know you're scared, bud, but I promise you everything's going to be okay if you surrender. Stand up and I'll walk to you. You see my guy waving right here? That's me, man. Oscar keeps prolonging the communication, not making any movement toward the officers. But the sniper sees enough through the scope. One wrong move from Oscar could change everything. Oscar, let's not do this, okay? Let's go get him a kid's meal. Uh just keep it going. You're doing great. No, I don't. That's what I thought. Talks good. We've got good communication. Oscar is moving along, but does not intend to come out. Hey, I'm right here. Can you see me? That tallest bush. The sniper takes the shot, and Oscar stops moving. Stand by. Stand by. Hold. Hold. Chill out. Hey, you got to stand Okay, hold up. Hold up. Hold. Hold. Officers learn they have succeeded. Okay, we've already got a hands-on established. I got child. I got child. Come here, buddy. >> [crying] >> The tragedy is averted after a stressful hour and 17 minutes, and the 2-year-old is reunited with his mother. The subsequent investigation clears the officer who took the fatal shot of any wrongdoing. Authorities later reveal Oscar Alcantara had a long criminal history with convictions for domestic abuse, holding a hostage at gunpoint, and another kidnapping incident.