A newborn baby has died in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles, and investigators want to know what happened. It appears someone may have thrown the baby boy from a fourth-floor window onto the ground below. The death occurred in the early morning of November 14. Passersby allegedly found his body in an alley near the 500 block of San Pedro Street.
According to the Los Angeles Times, police have detained a woman in connection with the case but did not disclose her relationship with the infant.
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Emergency crews pronounced the baby dead around 5:30 a.m.
The Times reported witnesses apparently saw the newborn on the ground, and someone tried to perform CPR before paramedics arrived. The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived and pronounced the infant dead. An investigation began into how the infant wound up in the alley.
Police claim someone may have dropped the infant.
A representative for the Los Angeles Police Department told the Times it’s possible someone dropped the baby from a fourth-floor bathroom. Police discovered a woman arrived at a nearby hospital at 2:30 a.m. with pelvic bleeding. Officers detained the woman for further questioning. Police did not release her name or relation to the infant, per the Times.
The baby reportedly died in a dangerous part of the city.
According to ABC 7, the baby died in an area known as Skid Row. The area encompasses more than 50 blocks in downtown Los Angeles and is home to a large homeless population. The area has a reputation for crime, violence, and drugs.
Witnesses reportedly found the newborn in an alleyway next to the Weingart Center. The facility serves as “a temporary but essential bridge for individuals experiencing homelessness, providing them with a supportive environment as they transition toward more stable, long-term housing solutions,” the organization’s website reads.
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California law allows parents to surrender their newborn without fear of prosecution.
A parent or guardian with lawful custody can safely surrender a baby within 72 hours of birth, according to the Safely Surrendered Baby Law. They must take the newborn to a hospital, designated fire station, or other safe surrender spot.
“At the time of surrender, a bracelet is placed on the baby for identification purposes and a matching bracelet provided to the parent or lawful guardian, in case the baby is reclaimed. A parent or person with lawful custody has up to 14 days from the time of surrender to reclaim their baby,” the law explains.
The infant’s death remains under investigation.
