The 1-year-old, identified by authorities as Acelynn Moss, was shot inside a bedroom on Jan. 1, police said.
SULPHUR, La. — A Sulphur woman was booked on first-degree murder after police said she shot and killed her 1-year-old daughter on New Year’s Day and was arrested at the scene. The mother, identified as 28-year-old Kristin Bass, remained jailed Saturday as detectives continued their homicide investigation.
Police said the shooting unfolded shortly after 8 p.m. inside a residence on the city’s west side and turned a family holiday into a crime scene lit by cruisers and an ambulance. The victim was identified as Acelynn Moss. A district judge later set Bass’s bond at $10 million. Detectives collected a handgun, spent casing, and other items from the bedroom and interviewed relatives into the early morning hours. Authorities called the case active and said additional results from the coroner and crime lab will guide the next steps for prosecutors.
The girl’s father, Bradley Moss, told officers he heard a loud noise and rushed into the room, where he found Bass holding a gun and their daughter wounded. He said another child, a 2-year-old, was nearby and crying but not hurt. Moss recounted that Bass made a disturbing statement after the gun went off, telling him she wanted to “send her to God,” according to his account to investigators. Police did not describe a struggle. Medics attempted to help the child, but she was pronounced dead at a local facility soon after, authorities said.
Officers responded within minutes of the 911 call, secured the home, and separated witnesses. Detectives canvassed the block for doorbell camera footage and asked neighbors what they saw. The department withheld the exact address while family notifications continued but described the area as a residential block with single-family houses. An autopsy was requested to determine the exact cause and manner of death. Investigators said laboratory testing would include ballistics comparisons and a forensic download of relevant devices seized from the scene. Police did not announce the recovery of additional firearms.
Calcasieu Parish investigators handle a small number of child homicide cases each year, often coordinating with state child welfare workers when siblings are present. In Sulphur, serious violent crimes are typically forwarded to the district attorney’s violent crimes team for charging decisions. First-degree murder in Louisiana can carry a mandatory life sentence. Prosecutors also review whether aggravating factors, mental health history, or prior incidents at the address are documented; police said those questions remain under review. Officials emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that definitive conclusions would follow the coroner’s report and lab analyses.
Bass is expected to make an initial court appearance early next week, when a judge could address representation and scheduling. Prosecutors will decide whether to present the case to a grand jury or file a bill of information. The police department said it plans to release an update after preliminary autopsy findings are available. In the meantime, child welfare officials are assisting the family regarding the surviving sibling’s placement with relatives. Police said any further charging enhancements would depend on additional evidence and interviews.
Neighbors described seeing multiple patrol vehicles, detectives, and a coroner’s van outside the home for several hours after midnight. “It was quiet all day, then it turned into lights everywhere,” said a resident who lives a few houses down. A small memorial of flowers and a stuffed rabbit sat near the mailbox Friday afternoon. Police Chief Brent Romero thanked residents for sharing surveillance video and said investigators are still collecting tips that might clarify the sequence of events before and after the gunshot.
As of Saturday, Bass remained in custody at the parish jail on the $10 million bond. Detectives said their next public update would likely follow the autopsy’s preliminary findings expected early in the week.
Author note: Last updated January 4, 2026.