The first night of the new year in Sulphur, Louisiana, was supposed to be quiet—a time when families settled back into routine after celebrations and looked ahead to fresh beginnings. Instead, the evening ended in devastation inside a modest home on Quelqueshue Street, where a one-year-old child lost her life and an entire family was shattered in a matter of seconds.
Shortly after 8:20 p.m. on January 1, Sulphur police officers were dispatched to the residence following a report of a child who had been shot. When officers arrived, they found a scene that would immediately change the course of several lives. Inside the home, a one-year-old girl lay unresponsive. Despite the rapid response, there was nothing emergency responders could do. The child had suffered a fatal injury and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The baby was identified as Acelynn Moss, just one year old, a toddler who had only begun to experience the world around her. To those who knew her, she was a source of light and innocence—a child whose life had barely begun before it was violently taken away.
Police quickly focused their investigation on Acelynn’s mother, 28-year-old Kristin Bass. According to authorities, Bass was identified as the person responsible for the shooting and was taken into custody at the home. She was later booked on a charge of first-degree murder and is being held on a bond set at $10 million, reflecting the severity of the allegations.
As investigators worked to secure the scene and collect evidence, Acelynn’s father, Bradley Moss, struggled to process what had happened. In statements later shared publicly, he described a moment that still replays in his mind with unbearable clarity. He said he was elsewhere in the house when he heard what he described as a “loud boom” coming from the bedroom.
Instinctively, Moss said, he ran toward the sound. What he found, he says, is something no parent should ever have to witness. Acelynn was on the floor, unresponsive. Bass, he said, was standing nearby holding a gun. The room was filled not only with shock and disbelief, but also with the cries of their other child.
Their two-year-old, Moss said, had been in the room at the time of the shooting. The toddler, frightened and confused, was crying out for help. “Help me, Daddy,” the child reportedly screamed, words that Moss says will haunt him for the rest of his life.
According to Moss, as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing, Bass attempted to explain her actions. He told investigators and later the media that she said she had shot Acelynn in order to “send her to God.” The statement, if confirmed in court, has left even seasoned investigators shaken by its gravity.
“I almost lost two babies,” Moss later said, his voice breaking. “I lost one because her mama wanted to send her to God.” His words captured the depth of a loss that defies logic—a father grieving not only the death of his child, but the circumstances under which it occurred.
Police have not publicly detailed what may have led up to the shooting, and investigators say the case remains active as they work to reconstruct the events of that night. Detectives are examining physical evidence from the home, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing any available history that might help explain how such a tragedy unfolded.
Authorities have confirmed that the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has taken custody of the surviving two-year-old. Child welfare officials are now responsible for ensuring the toddler’s safety and well-being as the criminal case moves forward. The child is believed to be staying with relatives or in a protected placement, though specific details have not been released.
For neighbors on Quelqueshue Street, the news came as a profound shock. Many described the area as generally quiet, a place where families look out for one another. Police activity that night drew attention from nearby homes, and the realization that a child had been killed inside the neighborhood left residents stunned and deeply saddened.
Law enforcement officials emphasized that incidents involving harm to children are among the most difficult cases officers encounter. “Any time a child is involved, it affects everyone,” one official said. “These are scenes that stay with you long after the investigation ends.”
The charge of first-degree murder carries the most serious consequences under Louisiana law. If convicted, Bass could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors have not yet outlined their full case, but the charge indicates that authorities believe the evidence supports an allegation of intentional killing.
Legal experts note that the case may involve complex questions related to mental state, intent, and responsibility. While those issues will be addressed in court, they do little to ease the immediate pain felt by the family and community.
For Moss, the days following the shooting have been consumed by grief and unanswered questions. Friends say he has struggled to reconcile the image of the family he once knew with the reality he now faces. The loss of Acelynn, they say, is compounded by the knowledge that her final moments were witnessed by her sibling.
Community members have begun leaving flowers, stuffed animals, and candles in memory of Acelynn. These quiet gestures, placed by strangers and loved ones alike, serve as reminders of a life that touched people even in its brief span.
Child advocacy groups across Louisiana have also taken note of the case, describing it as a tragic reminder of the importance of mental health resources, family support systems, and early intervention when warning signs appear. While no single measure can prevent every tragedy, advocates say increased awareness can sometimes make a difference.
Police are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact Sgt. Jeremy Cain with the Sulphur Police Department. Investigators stress that even seemingly small details could prove important as they continue to build a full picture of what happened.
As the legal process unfolds, court hearings will determine the next steps for Bass, including whether she will undergo psychological evaluations and how the case will proceed toward trial. Each appearance will reopen wounds for those who loved Acelynn, forcing them to relive the worst night of their lives.
For now, the focus remains on justice for a child who never had the chance to grow up. Acelynn’s name has become more than a headline—it represents innocence lost and a future stolen before it could begin.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over what should have been a hopeful start to the year. Instead of resolutions and celebrations, one Louisiana family is left with grief, questions, and a long road ahead.
In Sulphur and beyond, the story has prompted difficult conversations about family dynamics, emotional crises, and the devastating consequences when violence enters the home. It is a reminder that behind every police report is a human story—one marked by love, loss, and lives forever changed.
As investigators continue their work and the courts prepare to weigh the evidence, Acelynn Moss will be remembered not for the way she died, but for the life she was never given the chance to live. Her memory now rests in the hands of a community determined not to forget her, even as it struggles to understand how such a tragedy could occur.