Updated 1/19/20:
On January 19, 2020, detectives identified and arrested 32-year-old Charles Edward Davis Jr. in the City of Inglewood. He was transported to the Long Beach City Jail where he was booked on murder and assaulting a child resulting in death. Davis is currently being held on $2,000,000 bail.
The victim has been identified as 2-year-old William Meeks III of Long Beach.
During their investigation, detectives learned the suspect and the victim were alone inside a parked vehicle in the 900 block of Daisy Avenue when the assault took place. When authorities arrived on scene victim Meeks was in the arms of a Good Samaritan who was attempting to render medical aid.
Davis is believed to be an acquaintance of the victim’s mother.
Detectives anticipate presenting their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney sometime this upcoming week.
Detectives strongly urge anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Benjamin Vargas, Mark Mattia, and Donald Collier at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
Original News Release 1/17/20:
Not the actual suspect vehicle.
On June 14, 2019, at approximately 7:35 p.m., officers responded to a local hospital for a report of possible child abuse/neglect.
When officers arrived, they learned the Long Beach Fire Department had responded to the parking lot of a liquor store at the 900 block of Daisy Avenue for a child in full arrest. The 2-year old male victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on June 16, 2019.
The incident was originally investigated as a medical emergency; however, the recent release of the autopsy report determined the cause of death to be intentional blunt force trauma to the head, and the death is now being investigated as a murder.
Detectives believe the incident occurred inside a Silver, 2016 Hyundai Sonata, parked in the parking lot of the liquor store of the initial response. Detectives are not ruling out the possibility of the incident occurring inside the victim’s residence also located in the 900 block of Daisy Avenue.
Detectives have reviewed hours of surveillance video and know there are several witnesses who have yet to come forward, nor have they been identified. The Long Beach Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance and is asking anyone with information to please come forward.
Detectives strongly urge anyone with information regarding this murder to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Benjamin Vargas, Mark Mattia, and Donald Collier at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the "P3 Tips" app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.