A former college football star whose life once brimmed with promise was shot dead by police moments after coming out as gay, while using his son as a human shield.
asserted
life → brim → shield
Quinton Baker, 28, got into a fight with girlfriend Raneka Pate moments after revealing his sexuality to her at their Las Vegas apartment in February of this year.
He attacked her and another woman, then fled with the couple's adorable three-year-old son Kentre in his arms, while pointing a gun at the toddler's chest.
asserted
He → get → chest
Police bodycam released this week showed Baker advancing towards officers with Kentre, ignoring their orders to drop his weapon and saying: 'Imma shoot myself.'
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers were ordered to shoot Baker, with the former football star and Kentre both dying in a hail of bullets.
There was a fresh twist to the tragedy this week when police officials said they were unable to determine whether it had been one of their bullets or Baker's that killed Kentre.
Quinton Baker is seen here giving a post match interview in 2015, he died in February of this year after a hostage situation in which he held a gun to his toddler son Kentre
Despite his reputation as a shining star, Baker's college football career was not one without its own troubles
Cops previously claimed Baker was the one who shot his son dead, with his girlfriend Raneka Pate and family members now demanding answers.
asserted
girlfriend → release → answers
Baker managed to fire four shots between police opening fire on him and him falling to the ground, where he took his last breath.
asserted
he → manage → breath
Pate previously told ABC News 4: 'I called the police officers to my residence because of a domestic dispute.
asserted
I → tell → dispute
It escalated and turned into what seemed like a hostage situation.'
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what → escalate → situation
After losing her son, Pate launched her own GoFundMe page where she paid tribute to the toddler.
asserted
she → lose → toddler
In it she said: 'Kentre was pure sunshine in human form.
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Kentre → say → form
He had a playful, curious spirit and was fearless with a smile that could melt any heart.
'
uncertain
that → have → heart
He loved everything marine life, could spend hours naming every sea creature by scientific or common name!
uncertain
He → love → name
Baker left the address in February holding his son, pictured here, in his arms alongside a gun as he approached a group of awaiting officers, who had their guns drawn
Police said that Baker had argued with his girlfriend Raneka Pate, seen here holding their late son Kentre, after coming out as gay.
asserted
Baker → leave → son
The family are seen here in a social media photo
'
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family → see → photo
His laughter filled every home he stepped foot in, and his hugs were the kind you never wanted to let go of.
'
asserted
you → fill → foot
He was rough but gentle, loving, smart, athletic and always quick to share if he had something on his mind.'
asserted
he → love → mind
Understandably, Pate made no mention of her late boyfriend.
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Pate → make → boyfriend
But in his younger years, he showed considerable potential.
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he → show → potential
The Daily Mail has uncovered that Baker, a native of Kentucky, was an aspiring football player having played for Portland State in his younger years.
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Baker → uncover → years
In one news article dated back to 2016, when he was playing for Western Kentucky, the running back was described as being one of the team 'threats' on the field.
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back → date → field
According to a bio of Baker shared by Western Kentucky University, his high school career saw him average 165 yards per game, placing him among the top five of players in the state.
uncertain
him → accord → state
In one news article dated back to 2016, when he was playing for Western Kentucky, the running back was described as being one of the team 'threats' on the field
Officers shouted demands at Baker but he continued to advance.
asserted
he → date → Baker
He is seen here pointing the firearm at his son
He was ranked as a three-star rated prospect and at one point was considered the number 21 ranked all-purpose running back in the whole country by 247Sports.
asserted
He → see → 247Sports
In his first year at Western Kentucky University, he broke out as the school's number two running back and on his first career start delivered his first ever 100-yard rushing performance.
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he → break → performance
That year he was also named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
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he → name → team
In his Sophomore year he appeared in seven games and rushed for 233 yards with one touchdown.
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he → appear → touchdown
In his Junior year he spent the season at Portland State.
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he → spend → State
There is no mention at this time of whether Baker may have suffered from CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a progressive brain disease caused by repeated head knocks that has plagued professional footballers.
uncertain
that → be → footballers
Kentre is seen here with his grandfather Al Baker in a picture shared to Quinton's social media
He was ranked as a three-star rated prospect and at one point was considered the number 21 ranked all-purpose running back in the whole country by 247Sports
Baker's story bears some similarities to that of Aaron Hernandez.
asserted
story → see → Hernandez
The star New England Patriots tight end secretly struggled with his homosexuality and murdered his friend Odin Lloyd.
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end → struggle → friend
He killed himself in 2017 while in prison for the murder.
Aaron had been acquitted of most charges in a separate double murder case just a few days before his death.
asserted
Aaron → kill → death
After his death, doctors found Hernandez had advanced CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to head trauma.
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Hernandez → find → trauma
Despite his reputation as a shining star, Baker's college football career was not without its own troubles.
asserted
career → shin → troubles
The Daily Mail has also uncovered that he was hit with a litany of charges including possession of marijuana, careless driving and a DUI after being arrested in 2016.
asserted
he → uncover → 2016
He pleaded guilty in May of that year to DUI and possession of marijuana with four others being dismissed.
uncertain
others → plead → marijuana
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