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One of six children left alone for hours in a Birmingham home, the boy attacked the infant to make her stop crying, officials said.
“The 1-year-old suffered from severe head trauma as well as major internal organ damage which ultimately led to her death,” Birmingham police spokesperson Lieutenant Sean Edwards said, according to the news website AL.com.
“It is believed that while the mother and friend were at the club, the 8-year-old viciously attacked the 1-year-old because the 1-year-old would not stop crying,” Edwards said.
The baby, Kelci Devine Lewis, was found unresponsive in her crib on October 12 and later pronounced dead, AL.com said.
Her mother, Katerra Lewis, has been charged with manslaughter, the publication said.
Apart from the victim, who turned one in May, five children ranging in age from 2 to 8 were alone in the house, where Lewis was temporarily staying with friends, it reported.
The mother was released on bail on Monday. The Department of Human Resources (DHR) said it had no prior complaints concerning Lewis or her daughter.
The DHR is holding the 8-year-old boy and said it won’t release his name.
It is rare, but not unheard of in the United States, for children involved in the deaths of other children to face serious charges.
An 11-year-old boy from Tennessee was charged with first degree murder last month after he shot and killed his 8-year-old neighbour after arguing over a puppy.
