Crime
Man killed his 1-year-old child then shot himself in St. James Parish
A tragic case of murder-suicide involving a father and his one-year-old child unfolded Wednesday afternoon in Convent, Louisiana, according to Louisiana State Police.
The situation began in St. James Parish shortly after 2 p.m. when deputies from the St. James Sheriff’s Office were called to a residence in Paulina.
A request had been made for a deputy to stand by as a man was expected to arrive at the home to collect his belongings. However, the man never showed up, according to a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
Around 4 p.m., deputies returned to the residence after a second call.
This time, a woman at the location asked officers to conduct a welfare check on the man and their child, who were believed to be traveling together in an unknown area.
Investigators then traced the vehicle to Ascension Parish.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Gonzales Police Department and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, located the vehicle and pursued it back into St. James Parish.
When the vehicle was stopped, officers discovered the driver, a 23-year-old man, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Tragically, his infant child was also found in the vehicle, deceased from a gunshot wound.
The father was rushed to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, Louisiana State Police confirmed.
The identities of both the father and child have not yet been released.
The Louisiana State Police is leading the investigation, with assistance from the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Crime
Two Children, Ages 9 and 10, Charged in Brutal Assault and Attempted Murder of 5-Year-Old A’Marie Jones in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Two children, ages 9 and 10, have been formally charged in connection with the brutal assault and attempted murder of a 5-year-old girl A’marie Jones in Cleveland last month, according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors confirmed that the 9-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl are facing serious felony charges, including attempted murder, rape, felonious assault, kidnapping, and strangulation.
Because of their ages, both suspects are being charged as juveniles.
The alleged attack occurred on September 13 in a field near East 148th Street and St. Clair Avenue, where investigators say the young victim was discovered severely injured.
The child’s mother, Antavia Kennibrew, previously told that her daughter suffered catastrophic injuries, describing the scene as “unbelievable.” Kennibrew said she had dropped her daughter off at a relative’s home near East 145th Street and St. Clair Avenue that day.
At some point, the 5-year-old reportedly wandered out of the house alone before being attacked.
“When I saw her, she was unrecognizable,” Kennibrew said. “Her hair was scalped from her head. She had bruises and blood all over her body. Her eyes were filled with blood, her lips and mouth were swollen and bleeding, and her nails were filled with dirt and debris.”
First responders rushed the child to the hospital for emergency treatment. Officials say she continues to recover but has suffered severe physical, emotional, and psychological trauma. She is now undergoing ongoing therapy and counseling.
Due to the extreme sensitivity of the case and the involvement of minors, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office has declined to release further details, citing the ongoing investigation and the need to protect the victim’s privacy.
“The investigation remains active,” prosecutors said, noting that authorities are still reviewing evidence and gathering additional information.
Kennibrew says her focus now is on helping her daughter heal:
“I just want her to be able to live like a normal 5-year-old again.”
Cleveland police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assault.