Detectives arrested a St. Petersburg man they say shot his ex-girlfriend while she was driving a car with a baby inside last month.

Christopher Keys, 32, is facing several charges, including attempted first-degree murder, shooting a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle, aggravated stalking, and violation of injunction for protection against domestic violence.

"This is a very, very serious case of domestic violence," Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. "This woman is extremely lucky she’s alive."

Detectives say the shooting happened at the morning of Nov. 30 in the area of 31st Street N and 58th Avenue N in Lealman.

The 24-year-old woman was driving south on 31st Street N with her 11-month-old daughter when shots were fired at her car, detectives said.

Gualtieri said the gun was loaded with unique ammunition.

"When she was hit in the face with it, those projectiles went into her eyes," he said. "The bullet itself went down the side of her head, went into the car headrest sitting behind her seat, and we found the bullet in the back hatch of the car. If that child had still been in the car seat behind the driver’s seat, it would’ve gone through the child."

When deputies arrived, they found the woman standing next to her vehicle with several wounds to her head and neck. She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where she was treated.

The 11-month-old girl was not injured.

Detectives said witnesses told them a suspicious vehicle, described as a late 90s model maroon sedan, was parked in a driveway just south of 58th Avenue N prior to the shooting, and that the sedan fled southbound on 31st Street just after shots were fired.

Detectives also learned that the woman had obtained an injunction for protection against domestic violence from Keys, who investigators say had tried to tamper with the woman's brake lines at least twice in recent months in an attempt to harm her.

"When she said to him that you won’t see your daughter again if you keep doing this, he responded, 'It doesn’t matter, you’ll be dead within a year, [expletive],' " Gualtieri said.

Gualtieri said Keys is also accused of aggravated domestic battery against the woman while she was pregnant.

Keys was arrested at the Quality Inn on U.S. 19 N on charges of the violation of injunction. During the interview that followed, detectives say Keys admitted to the crime, saying he knew the victim would drive her car and "wanted to kill her."

Detectives said Keys admitted to driving a maroon 2001 Nissan Sentra, which belonged to his current girlfriend, to the victim's apartment complex, then drove to the area of 31st Street and 58th Avenue so he could following the victim.

Detectives are asking anyone with more information about the shooting investigation to contact Detective Steve Bergstrom of the Robbery/Homicide Unit at 727-582-6200. To remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

The investigation continues.