Man Charged With Beating Baby With His Hands, Fists

June 10, 2014

A Santa Rosa County man is behind bars after allegedly beating a baby with his hands and fists repeatedly because the baby would not stop crying at a baseball park.

Joseph Shawn Walker, 27, was charged with felony cruelty toward a child aggravated child abuse. He’s being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to call from the Santa Rosa Medical Center where the 6-month old baby had been taken. The baby suffered a skull fracture, extensive bruising to the head and face area, and bruising to the abdomen shoulders and back. The baby was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital and remains in intensive care.

Comments

65 Responses to “Man Charged With Beating Baby With His Hands, Fists”

  1. family member on September 4th, 2014 2:52 am

    I am a family member and would like to say the baby is doing wonderful. I can’t say anything else about the case. We thank you for thoughts and prayers. She is thriving . The other for children are also doing wonderful ….

  2. victoria on June 12th, 2014 8:42 am

    wasn’t there other people around why didn’t someone try to stop him ? Well I lived in Santa Rosa for a while and that goes to show that’s Santa Rosa County for you !
    I agree with JJ Thomas 100% and its the truth , good question where was Mom maybe she was high too . Alway’s blame it on drugs he or she was on drugs stop making excuses for them

  3. haley on June 11th, 2014 10:23 am

    I have to agree with Chevyboy. A crime such as this should be attempted murder. This sweet, innocent child being beaten up by this pitiful excuse for a man is just horrible. Sometimes I wonder about our judicial system and the punishment rendered for some crimes while ones like these seem to get a slap on the wrist. This is more than child abuse to me. This is horrible. This man, will probably walk if not now, in a few years only to come out and hurt another innocent child. I pray that this baby recover very soon. God bless this baby……

  4. Jerry on June 11th, 2014 8:05 am

    If I or a lot of guys like me were at the ball field when he started doing that he wouldn’t have lasted until to cops got there. He should consider himself a lucky man in that regard. I hope he spends the rest of his life behind bars because we have no desire to have anyone even remotely like that in society. He’s an animal, not a human being.

  5. Robert S on June 11th, 2014 6:36 am

    Is there any Update on the baby’s condition?

    Realize with the new laws and protections that may be hard to get.

    Continued thoughts and prayers for the baby.

  6. 429SCJ on June 11th, 2014 5:51 am

    This is certainly one case where I would not have a problem throwing the first stone.

    If your soul is that corrupted, then send you on to the devil.

  7. Andy on June 11th, 2014 5:25 am

    Our society is so overflowing with leaches and scum like him. We’ll never fully turn America back around. They’re a virus on our civilization.

  8. Heather M. on June 10th, 2014 4:05 pm

    Some people just don’t deserve to be parents. There are so many couples out there that can’t have children and then you get these sorry, good for nothing excuses for parents that pop babies out left and right then treat them like this. There is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THIS MANS ACTIONS!! He’s sorry, and chose drugs over being a father. I pray he gets what he’s got coming, and this beautiful little baby recovers quickly with no permanent damage.

  9. wes on June 10th, 2014 3:30 pm

    Man I have to say that this is vile and unnessecary and that joey does need to pay for what he did!!! I know joey and like his bro I agree that he is a good dude at heart……but like anyone else it could happen to it was too late before he realized his wrong…in no way fashion or form am I defending him or on his side…..As a father I want to kick his you know what but not kill him…..but what I will do is the right thing and PRAY!!!!!! and let the good Lord have his will…….yeah we all know we would kill him but let’s do the right thing and give it to GOD!!!! ANGIE,JOSH,AND THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED I AM SOO SORRY FOR THIS TRAGIC EVENT AND MY PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU. PRAY FOR BABY OCEANA!!!!!

  10. TLW on June 10th, 2014 12:21 pm

    Six months old? Are you kidding me! I would probably be sitting in jail right now if I had saw that.

  11. Dennis HE Wiggins on June 10th, 2014 10:35 am

    Him. Me. Five minutes alone. He would never do that again. . . . NEVER!

  12. Marie on June 10th, 2014 10:25 am

    I can’t help but wonder where the baby’s mother was. I love my husband with all my heart, but if he EVER seemed like he was about to hurt our child he would have to come through me first. I am her protector. I would not cover up for him if he harmed her. I would see that my child received medical care first, then I would go after him. Lord help anyone who would hurt an innocent baby or child. If the mother did not intervene when the baby was being beaten then she needs to be charged also. If she wasn’t there to intervene and she covered up for him afterward, then she needs to be charged. Praying The Lord heals this baby and there is no lasting affects on this poor innocent child.

  13. C.C. on June 10th, 2014 10:15 am

    Please DO NOT blame the mother and assume terrible things about her. She is a friend of mine and had no idea what this man was capable of. She did NOT lie at the hospital. He had told her that the baby was hurt because another child hurt her with a swing, and when she found out the truth hours later, she was devastated. This beautiful girl has a loving mother and family, so long as this sicko isnt around.

  14. Louise on June 10th, 2014 9:42 am

    First and most importantly my prayers are for the survival and healing of this tiny, innocent angel. Secondly to the vile, subhuman sorry excuse of a man my prayers for you are that you will get your mind right once you are in general population in jail. If you can’t seem to work that out on your own I am certain there are plenty of other inmates that will love to help you do it. There is a special place in hell for the likes of you, and I know there is a reservation there with you name on it. Dispicable is not bad enough to describe you. Loathesome is a little closer but not quite there. You get the picture.

  15. Anastasia on June 10th, 2014 9:20 am

    Like many have said, this is PATHETIC. I believe this should be considered attempted murder. Very sad!! Prayers for the 6 month old baby’s speedy recovery.

  16. Sending Angels & Prayers on June 10th, 2014 8:49 am

    God sent that little baby to those parents to care for and raise ! You do not deserve to have the rite to breathe the samd air that the baby does oh wait your probably not im sure that baby is on a ventalater! Where you are going its gonna be hard to breathe!! You will reap what you sew and I hope you learn your lesson the hard way about treating children! You are supose to love and protect your children not put them in intensive care YOU SIR ARE AN AWEFUL PERSON AND GOD WILL PUNISHYOU COME JUDGMENT DAY!!!!!!!

  17. Scott on June 10th, 2014 8:38 am

    Makes me wanna get put in jail so I can make him cry and beat him!!! What a piece of crap!!

  18. DALE K on June 10th, 2014 7:54 am

    LASSITER YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.SAME GOES FOR ME WILLIAM

  19. John on June 10th, 2014 6:42 am

    These little children seem to have so much against them. First if they survive the first nine months without being decapitated, then they are born into broken homes and there are plenty of them. It doesn’t really matter what I have to say ( Just adding my two cents) But that man has to face God one day like the rest of us.

  20. Thomas Anderson on June 9th, 2014 11:44 pm

    He will not last a week in jail. Even if he gets put in the SHU, someone will get to him. They take crimes against kids very seriously there. He doesn’t have long to live.

  21. Ronald Harris on June 9th, 2014 10:46 pm

    All I can say is you should get on your knees and thank GOD that I was not there!!!!

  22. Anonymous on June 9th, 2014 10:38 pm

    Someone will kill him.

  23. Scott Lassiter ( My real name) on June 9th, 2014 10:12 pm

    @ Josh Walker I am sure your brother never wanted to beat a defenseless baby. If your brother would like to beat on a full grown man, get with William @Northhescambia.com, and I will authorize him to give your brother my phone number.( When/If he gets out on bond) Then we can get together and I will personally let him attempt the same on me. I am sure it will be easy, considering your brother spars with infants.

  24. eyeswideopen on June 9th, 2014 10:11 pm

    What a wonderful person, CHOSE to use bath salts which can distort your mind and near kill an innocent baby. Hope he gets the prison time he deserves. Josh W. bath salts is only illegal and worse than pot, it has killed people the 1st time they did it. It turned your brother from a quiet person into a monster. As a parent you are to protect your children that means being totally alert when they are in your care, no drinking, drugs, your undivided attention. If the mother of the baby knew of the drug problem she should be held accountable also. You can’t make excused for him, he will have to suffer the consequences of his actions.
    May God Bless this baby.

  25. Jean on June 9th, 2014 10:10 pm

    Usually what you do on drugs is the same thing you’d do off drugs. If you’re an awful human being it will show through eventually.

  26. melodies4us on June 9th, 2014 10:02 pm

    What a horrible person.

  27. WarEagle007 on June 9th, 2014 9:19 pm

    Evil, wicked, vile, monster, not fit to walk the face of earth. This demon belongs in the depths of hell. I think I’ll wait for notification on this trial and be there in support of this innocent baby. I encourage others to do the same. This must be attempted murder and this demon of a male man locked up forever.

  28. dixiebug on June 9th, 2014 8:52 pm

    what goes around,,,comes around…and I hope you reap yours….baby beater,,

  29. Josie on June 9th, 2014 8:50 pm

    I’m still in shock. I knew they had troubles lately but he seemed like such a loving husband and father. He was always talking about beautiful his wife is and how lucky he is to have wonderful children. I’ve praying from the begining before I ever knew what happen and I will continue to pray for the mother and her children.

  30. g on June 9th, 2014 8:32 pm

    Prayin for this baby, as for this mans brother its takes some guts to try and stand up for him. But please give me a lil time with him, its called gettin ur mind right and there is alot of us that can do that. If Big Bubba gets his hands on him in jail or prison we won’t have to lift a finger

  31. lloyd b on June 9th, 2014 7:57 pm

    Wanna take a few swings at a man..You would be the one in intensive care you coward!!!!

  32. mick on June 9th, 2014 7:31 pm

    save the taxpayers some money put this pathetic excuse for a human being on death row with an expedited sentence

  33. Michelle on June 9th, 2014 7:08 pm

    Please, Please tell me the mother is not going to take this? Please don’t be one of those women who stands by her man because “I love him” and put up with abuse. I pray to GOD the baby will recover.

  34. Robert S. on June 9th, 2014 6:32 pm

    Prayers only for the 6 month old baby who is in Intensive Care.

    My feelings for what should happen to Mr. J.S. Walker do not need to be put here.
    No excuses for what he did to a BABY…..NONE.

  35. Tammy on June 9th, 2014 6:31 pm

    I can’t believe he was Arrested, , They should have had a body bag,, I think I could put him in it for them with no problem, ,, Hoping the BABY will be ok,,,,

  36. lovemyendz on June 9th, 2014 6:17 pm

    my kids play ball at that park. i am just curious as to why no one at the park called police? did he take the baby to the bathroom or the car? if so, that shows that it was deliberate and premeditated. officials in that park do not stand for any type of obnoxious or unruly behavior so he must have hid what he was doing. i live in milton and its a small town so people talk. i was told that his wife/girlfriend tried to lie for him at the hospital to cover up what he had done. if that is the case then she doesnt deserve to have any of her kids any more than he does. it’s a mother’s job to protect her children….NOT protect scumbags like him.

  37. Dano on June 9th, 2014 5:53 pm

    Josh Walker – I’m sorry for what your family is going through. Be strong – I hope you’ll be a good example for your brother’s children. Hoping the little one comes out okay.

  38. Joan on June 9th, 2014 2:26 pm

    This is awful and pathetic the man needs extensive counseling and prison time for the abuse he placed on this sweet innocent baby I will never understand why anyone would want to hurt a child they are so helpless to abuse and the abuser he should never ever be aloud to be in the presence of children or this baby ever again…Do your job DCF

  39. Bonnie on June 9th, 2014 1:59 pm

    He will get his beating in jail! Karma

  40. Shay on June 9th, 2014 1:46 pm

    I agree with LeeAnna McCall! Whether he was on drugs or not, he knew what he was doing. This man deserves more than a beating.

  41. North end resident on June 9th, 2014 1:32 pm

    To his brother Josh Walker’s comment>.\>> It’s apparent that you remember a better man than the one we are reading about, that committed this horrific act that almost landed his child in a grave. All drugs, no matter what they are called, are BAD and DESTRUCTIVE. When a person makes a choice to use such drugs and crosses that line of abusing and/or killing the ones they profess to love, they forfeit their right for compassion and must deal with the consequences of his choices and actions.

    If he truly loved this baby and all his other children for that matter, he would have never picked up that drug and/or any other drug that would potentially endanger his life and his families life in the first place. It’s apparent, he loves himself more. We all go through hard times, still no excuse to turn to drugs or alcohol for answers! JMO

  42. Peggy Henderson on June 9th, 2014 1:18 pm

    He chose to do drugs just like he chose to beat his baby. No excuses, he should be charged with attempted murder !!

  43. brenda on June 9th, 2014 12:58 pm

    There is jo reason why someone should hurt a baby. The baby could have been hot hunger or wet sorry man.

  44. Stephanie d on June 9th, 2014 12:51 pm

    We have adopted 8 children and this is what I have to tell my children: your parent probably wasn’t in their right frame of mind when they did what they did but they did know the consequences that could happen before they did drugs the very first time. Every choice we make has a consequence. Foster homes wouldn’t be maxed out if people would make the choice not to do drugs the very first time it was offered. These children didn’t ask for this. Prayers for this baby and the family

  45. What a Shame on June 9th, 2014 12:02 pm

    The system we have taking care of kids who this happens to will more then likely have the baby back in the home in a couple of weeks. Some one at the park should have put him in the hospital.

  46. Darlene Miller on June 9th, 2014 11:58 am

    Ever thought that maybe is was HOT!!! Way to hot for these little babies to be out. Get educated on babies or give them up to someone who really cares for them. I hope and pray that you get what you deserve. Prayers for the baby to recover fast.

  47. JJ Thomas on June 9th, 2014 11:57 am

    YOU HAVE TO BE A MONSTER TO HURT A CHILD ..WATCH HOW MESSED UP FLORIDA SELL DRUGS GET HARD TIME…ABUSE A CHILD AND GET PROBATION……

  48. trish on June 9th, 2014 11:56 am

    They need to do away with him for good, cause if they let him back out and they will, he will do it again and this time he may kill the baby or someone else. But the system will give him a little time a slap on the hand and he will be back out again. That’s why criminals do what they do cause the punishment is not tough enough. The way I see it, kill rapist, child molesters, and murderers and baby beaters. Don’t give them a second chance to do it again. If that would happen people would think twice before they committed a crime. I just pray the baby has a full recovery. Prayers for the family.

  49. Praying :( on June 9th, 2014 11:46 am

    Absolutely PATHETIC! This man needs to be hung from a tree and tortured till the very point of death let him heal and do it over and over again! How can anyone beat an innocent 6 month old baby like that :’( :’( prayer for a healthy recovery for that precious angel and hope this man gets exactly what he deserves!

  50. scott on June 9th, 2014 11:44 am

    wow

  51. Molino resident on June 9th, 2014 11:32 am

    Animals treat their young better than some humans. This man is a monster. I have to concur with Jann. Jail will probably take care of him. He earned it.
    God Bless this little child. Please heal him. In Jesus Name. Amen.

  52. LeeAnna McCall on June 9th, 2014 11:27 am

    If a pitbull hurts a child… They KILL it!!! Why let this scum bag breathe another moment!!!???!!!

  53. Josh walker on June 9th, 2014 11:10 am

    Look i am the brother of Joey and I am losted for words myself but he did hit her a few times yes but that’s not him he loves his kids and has never had anger issues or touched of of them kids at all until that day, Joey grow up the silet type and got along with everyone never faught or anythig, Joey has been going down a long road of drug abuse and when all that happy he was only bath salt and was tripping, he didn’t realized what he did until it was to late!!! I know still losted for words about all this but I know the man he is and he loves his kids deally!!! He would never do
    Anything to hurt them but no he has to deal with what he has done over a stupid drug call bath salt!!!

  54. mrskris6 on June 9th, 2014 10:45 am

    PLEASE give me a baseball bat and let me handle it!!! There is a SPECIAL place in HELL for people like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO HEARTBREAKING!!!!

  55. HOGKILLER31 on June 9th, 2014 10:41 am

    This Low Life Will Get Off Easy Since It Was A Human Being Not A Animal

  56. Sara Dalton on June 9th, 2014 10:30 am

    I heard once that general population in jails don’t stand for child abusers. Dad once told me that people like that poor excuse of a man and deserve anything and everything that u get when you are in jail. I have no sympathy for you at all, you are nothing but a worthless evil person just worthless.

  57. Billy D on June 9th, 2014 10:26 am

    there’s not even a good justification for garbage like this to exist. It’s beyond me how he even was able to walk out of that ballpark without someone hurting him for what he was doing. Beating a baby?? Really?? God has a special place for people like this…………

  58. so sad on June 9th, 2014 10:24 am

    This just absolutely disgusts me. I tried for years to have my daughter. (and sadly have lost 2 babies) I would give anything in this world to have another child and this so called man was blessed with a child and then did this. I can only hope that he gets what he deserves. Is the baby in the custody of the mother or other family? (or will the child end up in social services? I would take care of the baby and give it a wonderful home full of nurturing and love. It absolutly breaks my heart that people don’t take care of the blessings that God gives them.

  59. Sara Dalton on June 9th, 2014 10:23 am

    And those of us that would do anything to have child of our own cant have any, but the ppl who don’t need kids have them. I’m dumbfounded literally.

  60. mq on June 9th, 2014 10:20 am

    Just realized it was at a baseball park – his stroller, car seat, or ask another person for help … just keep the child SAFE. Still NO need to harm a child/baby because of his crying.

  61. mq on June 9th, 2014 10:18 am

    Just plain HORRIBLE. There is NO excuse. If you can’t deal with the child/baby, put him in a safe place (ie his crib, pack n play, etc) walk away, regroup and then try again. NEVER hurt a child out of your own frustration. SAD.

  62. sad infertile on June 9th, 2014 10:17 am

    I hate seeing stories like this. For someone like myself who deals with infertility and would do anything to have a child this just saddens my heart that much more. How about hold the child, show the child love then the baby would stop crying. Maybe the baby was hungry or needed a diaper change. I guess you thought the only way to get the baby quite was to beat him. You sir are an idiot who doesn’t deserve a child. Where was the mother?? I just get soooo mad because people like this get to keep having children while I have to suffer with infertility and sit back and watch stuff like this happen. :-(

  63. Mary on June 9th, 2014 10:09 am

    Praying for a quick recovery for this little one. Hope that the baby has a loving and responsible mother to take care of him/her. This is a sad story. :( .

  64. Jann on June 9th, 2014 10:07 am

    Wow! Maybe someone will do the same to him in jail. I can only hope. I will be praying for this innocent baby. Six months old? Is this the baby’s natural father? Some people just do not deserve to be blessed with children.

  65. chevyboy on June 9th, 2014 10:05 am

    That’s just pure pathetic! Maybe someone in the jail will treat him the same way when he is crying! Crime of that nature should be attempted murder in my book.