Mom Of Girl, 3, Found After Amber Alert Charged In Shooting: Cops

FLANDERS, NY — The mother of 3-year-old girl who was believed to have been abducted after a shooting in Flanders Thursday night has turned herself in — and the child has been found safe, police said.

Patchita Tennant, 42, of Riverhead, turned herself in to Southampton Town Police detectives Friday afternoon, police said. On Friday, she was charged with first degree assault, a felony, and criminal use of a firearm, a felony, police said.

Tennant will be held for morning arraignment at Southampton Town Justice Court, police said.

According to Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki, Tennant was arrested following a multi-agency investigation and search for the three-year-old-child. The Suffolk County Police Department, New York State Police, Riverhead Police, East Hampton Town Police, U.S. Marshals, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office all helped with the search, he said.

The child, Vanessa Tennant-Mitchell, was not in the car when it was located and had been reportedly found with a relative after Tennant left the Flanders home with her, police said.

"The use of Amber Alert allows the public as well as law enforcement to be aware of missing or abducted children," Southampton Town Police Lt. Susan Ralph said. "It was through the Amber Alert that the relative realized there was a report of the three-year old missing. The relative immediately contacted law enforcement so we could confirm the child was unharmed."

Child Protective Services are involved with the case, police said

Southampton Town Police activated the New York State Amber Alert Friday; police said they were investigating a child abduction that took place near Pleasure Drive in Flanders at 8:20 p.m.

Southampton Town Police said they received a call Thursday night from a man who said he had been shot; patrol units were immediately dispatched to the home, police said.

Police found Andrew Mitchell, 46, of Flanders shot multiple times, police said. Mitchell was conscious and alert and able to tell officers the mother of his child had shot him during a domestic dispute, police said.

Tennant fled the area with their 3-year-old daughter and was not immediately located, police said. Mitchell was airlifted by Suffolk County Police aviation to an area hospital for treatment, police said.

(New York State Police)