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A desperate mother cried out in pain, pleading with a trespasser to release her infant after he entered their house and took them hostage, as captured in video footage.

Michele Peters was marking Memorial Day in 2023 with friends and her three children when Antonio Hammond, 28, entered her home and seized her two-year-old daughter as a hostage to prevent the police from killing him, according to her.

She had thought he was a friend of a friend, but he turned out to be an accused criminal who was running from the police after trying to shoot them when they confronted him about a gun hidden in his pocket,Penn Live reported. 

He held the child in one hand and a firearm in the other, questioning the young mother: ‘Do you have faith in God?’

“I do, but I don’t know you!” she urgently responded, as revealed in a video released by the district attorney.

They’re trying to kill me,” Hammond said to her, his voice filled with fear as they stood behind her closed front door. “Do you think God is going to harm your child? Come on, God isn’t going to hurt any baby.

“I’m nothing, you’re nothing. Have faith in God… Lead me to safety. You’re with me, you’re with me. Please. Don’t weep,” he pleaded as the mother cried.

“I’m making an effort, but you’ve taken my pride and my happiness,” she said to Hammond as they gazed through the front door at a significant police presence.

“Your child is perfectly secure,” he asserted.

“I’m not familiar with you,” she cried.

“Place your trust in God, not in me, place your trust in God,” he answered.

A short time later, he opened the screen door to speak with the police, informing them that he and Peters had children present.

When the police ignored him, he returned to the emotional mother, claiming that officials would not risk shooting her infant in front of a camera. The mother was recording using his phone, which he had provided to her, according to Penn Live.

“I have no idea what you did!” she shouted at him.

“They aren’t going to kill anyone without a reason while being recorded,” he said, keeping the gun in front of him.

“Please, hand over my child,” she pleaded.

“He’s targeting, he’s damn well targeting!” Hammond shouted.

“I’m aware he’s targeting! Hand over my child!” the young mother desperately shouted at the criminal.

The couple exchanged words before the mother peered around the screen door to inform those present that she did not recognize the man inside her house.

He’s got my child and a gun. I don’t know this man,” she shouted as her daughter started to weep. “He won’t return my baby. He has a gun!

Hammond went to the rear entrance, where the mother started begging the man that she would “stand by your side” if he placed the infant on the sofa.

Peters eventually exited the house, compelled to leave her middle child with the man. Her oldest daughter had already fled with her mother’s friend during the earlier conflict, and Peters took her youngest child with her when she left, according to Penn Live.

A SWAT unit subsequently arrived, and with the aid of a drone, they spotted Hammond lying on a mattress, with the child wrapped under a blanket and the gun in his other hand.

As Hammond spotted the drone, he aimed the gun at the infant, followed by the tactical gear.

Once the pair was identified, tactical officers attempted to enter the house via the back door. At this moment, Hammond, who no longer had a weapon, was concentrating on the front of the house, allowing the officers to come in through the rear.

One officer brought the man down to the ground, while a second attempted to retrieve the gun. A third tried to take Peters’ two-year-old child away from him.

While fighting, officers fired a shot at Hammond’s head. He was able to stand up again, but the officers held him down and provided assistance.

He kept the child captive for approximately five hours, said Harrisburg Police Commissioner Tom Carter.

On Tuesday, Hammond was found guilty of kidnapping, breaking into a home, possessing a weapon as a previously convicted criminal, and carrying a firearm without proper authorization, along with additional charges.

He was found not guilty of aggravated assault.

Hammond’s sentencing is scheduled for September 30. He could receive a maximum of 20 years in prison.

His attorney, Michael Palermo, stated to the Daily Mail that they intend to challenge the case and that his client never disputed entering Peters’ residence. He does, however, deny trying to shoot at law enforcement officers.

He feels remorse for how events unfolded,” Palermo said to the Daily Mail. “It was a series of instant choices that led to disorder.

Hammond further states that the child approached him once he had entered Peters’ house.

Peters and Hammond also made statements following the conviction, with the mother informing him she will attend the sentencing, according to Palermo.

He further mentioned that the mother informed Hammond that she wants him to undergo mental health treatment.

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