Man uses baseball bat to stop beating of toddler

VANCOUVER, Wash. — When a motel resident saw a young child being beaten, he sprang into action.

Don Gilbert heard a commotion outside his room Tuesday night, according to KPTV. Witnesses said Kyle Holder, 32, threw his 2-year-old daughter out the window of a room onto the cement walkway. Holder then repeatedly threw her to the ground and stomped on her head, witnesses said.

Holder appeared to be suffering from delusions. Police said Holder told them, “I did not want to kill her, but I had to. I had to hold my daughter and crush her head so she could go up to the sky.”

Gilbert ended the brutal attack with a few swings of a baseball bat. He said he struck Holder on the back and the head.

Police used a Taser on Holder to subdue him.

The toddler is in critical condition.

Holder is facing a first-degree attempted murder charge.