Chesco Man Pleads Guilty After Punching 9-Month-Old Child, Killing Him: DA

WEST CHESTER, PA — A Chester County man pleaded guilty to third degree murder after punching a 9-month-old child and failing to get the child medical attention, authorities said.

Enrique Lopez-Gomez, 32, of West Grove, will be sentenced in the coming weeks.

The incident occurred on June 24, 2024 at around 10:58 p.m. on the 600 block of Cope Road in Kennett Township.

When first responders arrived, the victim's mother was walking out the front door with the child wrapped in a blanket, and white foam coming from his nose and mouth, police said. He did not have a pulse.

EMS also noted bruising on the child's body, the DA said. An investigation determined that the injuries came from Gomez striking the child, according to police, and the cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma to the abdomen.

The child was taken to Nemours-A.I. DuPont Hospital for children where he was pronounced dead at 12:16 a.m. on June 25.

Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe called it an "unthinkable death."

Lopez-Gomez remains booked at Chester County Prison.

If you are concerned about a child, call 911 and call Childline at 1-800-932-0313. Childline reports can be anonymous.