Chester County Man Struck, Killed 21-Month-Old Child: DA

WEST CHESTER, PA — A Chester County man has been charged with third degree murder after striking his 21-month-old child in the stomach, killing him, the district attorney's office announced.

Enrique Lopez Gomez, 30, of West Grove, faces numerous other charges as well.

"This defendant brutally injured a toddler under his care, failed to get the child medical care, and caused his death," DA Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement. "It’s difficult to fathom how someone could do this."

The incident occurred on June 24 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.

Bail was set at $10,000,000 and Gomez was booked at Chester County Prison. A preliminary hearing is forthcoming.

If you know of a child in danger, call Childline immediately at 1-800-932-0313.