MILWAUKEE — A 21-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide after he reportedly struck a 2-month-old about 7:40 a.m. June 5 in the 3000 block of North 28th Street. The baby later died.
Kenta T. Evans of Milwaukee admitted hitting the 2-month-old, according to the criminal complaint.
The 2-month-old was admitted to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in respiratory failure. The infant was diagnosed with bilateral comminuted skull fractures, bilateral subdural hemorrhaging, cerebral edema, intraventricular hemorrhage and a torn upper labial frenulum, according to the criminal complaint.
Jessica McNeal, the baby’s mother, said Evans might be the infant’s father.
McNeal said Evans came over to see the infant, but once inside McNeal’s residence, he quickly switched from wanting to see the baby to accusing McNeal of having other men in the house.
Evans allegedly grabbed McNeal’s cellphone and smashed it against the wall. McNeal walked away from Evans toward her bedroom, where the infant was inside a playpen. McNeal entered the bedroom and picked up the baby. McNeal reportedly told Evans to leave, causing Evans to “go crazy,” according to the criminal complaint.
Evans allegedly got in McNeal’s face, and McNeal continued to tell Evans to leave the house.
Evans started punching McNeal repeatedly with closed fists while she held the baby, according to the criminal complaint.
McNeal’s sister, Carmel Elim, came into the room and told Evans to stop. Elim took the baby from McNeal and immediately noticed the infant was bleeding from the mouth and had multiple knots on its head.
Elim took the baby to the hospital, and McNeal said she was going to call the police. Evans reportedly left the residence.
At 8:54 p.m. June 5, the baby died from its injuries, according to the complaint.
On June 6, Evans admitted to the altercation with McNeal and admitted causing injuries by punching the baby, according to the criminal complaint.
