Death of 4-month-old found not breathing ruled a homicide, Kansas City police say
Detectives continued Thursday to investigate the homicide of a 4-month-old boy in Kansas City.
Officers were called just after 6:15 a.m. Tuesday to the 5400 block of Harrison Street on a report of an infant who wasn’t breathing, said Officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman with the Kansas City Police Department.
Emergency medical personnel who responded to the scene didn’t find any obvious signs of injury or trauma to the child, who was taken to the hospital, Drake said.
“Last night, detectives were contacted by hospital staff who advised the victim had died,” Drake said Thursday. “Due to the information relayed regarding internal injuries, an investigation was initiated.”
The medical examiner’s office ruled the child’s death a homicide, Drake said.
“This is a difficult one to talk about,” she said at a news conference outside police headquarters. “Super frustrating.”
The baby, who has not been identified publicly, suffered a forehead injury, complex skull fracture, brain bleed and chest trauma, according to a search warrant filed by detectives. The child was removed from life support Wednesday, the warrant said.
The search warrant was filed Wednesday.
Neighbor Ella Johnson said she saw a lot of police activity, including about 15 officers searching the house. She told The Star she had previously seen the man who lives in the house where the child was found outside and, she said, he seemed upset, throwing up a few times.
Police have not released any suspect information.
The infant’s death marks the 30th homicide in Kansas City this year. Kansas City ended last year with 182 homicides, the most in the city’s history in a single year, according to data maintained by The Star.
Drake urged anyone with information to call detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
“Emotions are definitely high,” Drake said, referring to dealing with a case in which the homicide victim is a baby.
The Star’s Tammy Ljungblad contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 11, 2021 at 10:55 AM.
