An Austin man was charged with felony domestic assault Wednesday after allegedly striking a woman in the jaw while she was holding her one-month-old baby.

Shaninth Michael Ray, 23, was also charged with fifth-degree assault in connection with the incident.

According to court documents, the victim and her baby were at a house in the 1100 block of 10th Ave. SW Friday night around 11:50 p.m. with Ray and a few other people. The woman told police she was discussing some of Ray’s negative characteristics with somebody in the living room and he was listening outside the window. When he heard what she said, he allegedly came inside and hit her in the jaw and on the nose.

One witness said Ray slapped the woman as she was holding her one-month-old baby, according to the court complaint. Another witness, who is the owner of the house at which the incident occurred, told police officers Ray was pushing, slapping, kicking and punching the woman.

The woman said Ray was also wielding a hammer at some point.

When police spoke with Ray, he said he did not have a hammer and no one hit each other. He said the woman cut his shirt with a knife, and she later admitted to cutting the shirt when she grabbed a knife for self defense.

The woman also admitted to hitting Ray and kicking him in the groin area.

Ray is currently on pre-trial release for felony domestic assault. He is scheduled to appear in court to make his plea regarding the Friday night incident on Sept. 15.