A 12-year-old New Orleans girl was reportedly charged with murder over the death of her 6-month-old brother, officials announced on Thursday.
The juvenile was charged after the infant was found dead at the family’s St. Charles Parish home on Sunday, WWL-TV reported, citing police.
“He was perfect,” the children’s aunt, Nicole Brown, told the outlet, referring to the young victim. “He was a beautiful baby.”
Investigators did not reveal a cause of death. But St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said in a statement that “the homicide did not involve the use of a dangerous weapon.”
The sheriff added: “This is an horrific and tragic situation.”
Sources told WWL-TV that the girl may have struck the boy.
Brown told the news station that her niece “loved” her little brother.
“What happened, happened. I’m sorry that it happened. Nobody can change it,” said Brown, who babysat for the family.
The girl is being held without bond in a juvenile detention center, the report said.