CHICAGO — A 17-year-old has been charged with murder in the death of his infant son, who was found unresponsive as the father was playing video games Thursday in a West Englewood home, authorities said.
Willie Brown, 17, was charged with first-degree murder, according to prosecutors. He's accused of killing Demari Brown, his 4-month-old son, police said.
Demari was at home in the 6000 block of South Honore Street Thursday when he was given a bath and then placed in his crib by his grandmother to take a nap, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
Brown was alone in a bedroom with the baby, who was heard crying, when the crying suddenly stopped, Assistant State's Attorney Heather Kent said in court Tuesday.
Brown then came out of the room and started playing video games, Kent said.
About 11 a.m., Damari's mother checked on the baby and found him unresponsive, according to police. The baby was taken to Holy Cross Hospital and pronounced dead at 11:30 a.m., the morgue said.
After Demari was pronounced, the baby's mother asked Brown what he had done to her child, Kent said. He told her, "I am sorry, I am sorry," according to Kent.
An autopsy determined that the boy suffered several blunt force injuries and child abuse, and his death was ruled a homicide, the morgue said. The baby had signs of possible bruising, both old and new, in his chest and temple area, according to police.
Police said the baby's father was arrested on Saturday.
Judge Israel Desierto ordered Brown held on a $500,000 bail.
