Philadelphia Police: Death Of 2-Year-Old Boy Found Bleeding, Unresponsive In Home Ruled Homicide
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police say the death of a 2-year-old boy who was found bleeding and unresponsive inside an Oxford Circle home has been ruled a homicide. Officers responded to the home on the 5900 block of Shisler Street on Tuesday afternoon.
Police have not yet released an official cause of death but detectives say the injuries the boy suffered are consistent with blunt force trauma.
"The officers did attempt resuscitation and the child was ultimately transported to St. Christopher's Hospital, where he was later sadly pronounced," Philadelphia Police Capt. Sekou Kinebrew said.
On Wednesday, the Medical Examiner's Office determined the young child's death was criminal.
"The medical examiner ruled the manner of death a homicide and there was some injuries on the child -- at least based on the medical examiner's ruling -- that the injuries were the result of blunt force trauma," Kinebrew said.
The case is now in the hands of Philadelphia homicide detectives. Police say the baby's name is Jasah Hicks.
At the child's home, a person who answered the door had little to say about what took place.
"Their mother don't want us to talk. I can't talk to you," the woman said.
"I am devastated, devastated to no end," a neighbor named Lucille said.
Lucille, who has lived on the block for the better part of four decades, says she remembers the commotion Tuesday evening.
"I looked outside, and I said, 'Oh my God, what is going on?'" Lucille said.
She says she didn't know the family personally -- they've only lived in the area for the past few years -- but it hurts her knowing this is the second confirmed homicide of a child under 5 years old in Philadelphia this week alone.
"I don't know what's wrong with the world anymore," Lucille said.
On Tuesday, prosecutors charged a 38-year-old guardian with murder in 4-year-old Zya Singleton's killing.
In that case, the assistant district attorney called it possibly one of the worst cases of child abuse she had ever seen.
"No child deserved to die at that age," Lucille said.
Police have not made any arrests in the murder of the 2-year-old boy.
