Baby dies of severe injuries
Police open a murder probe after responding to reports of household abuse in Nanakuli
Homicide police are investigating the death of a 1-year-old Nanakuli girl who was admitted to the hospital Sunday with severe injuries.
The girl died at 5:52 a.m. yesterday at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.
Police reclassified the case yesterday to murder from a first-degree assault.
According to a KHON2 news report Sunday, police said the baby was "most likely suffering from shaken baby syndrome." KHON2 also reported the baby had massive head injuries and a broken collarbone, according to investigators.
Family members told the TV station on Sunday that the baby had gone into a coma at Kapiolani Medical Center.
Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu would not comment on any details of the baby's condition or the investigation.
The baby was brought to the hospital early Sunday morning.
Police arrested a 26-year-old homeless man on suspicion of first-degree assault in the case at 11:15 a.m. Sunday but released him pending further investigation.
Officers went to the Pililaau Avenue home of the baby early Sunday morning in what was reported as an abuse-type case, police said.
The child was taken by ambulance at 2:36 a.m. Sunday to St. Francis West Medical Center in serious condition, and her condition worsened to critical on the way to the hospital, said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city's Emergency Services Department.
She was later transported to Kapiolani Medical Center.
An autopsy will be conducted this morning to determine the exact cause of death.
The Medical Examiner's Office declined to release the child's identity because the case is under police investigation.
According to the KHON2 news report, family members said the girl's mother and her boyfriend were the only adults in the room with her.