Wisconsin man arrested for punching 2-month-old kid leading to his death during fight with child's mother
A man from Milwaukee, 21-year-old Kenta Evans, is facing charges of first-degree reckless homicide resulting in the death of his two-month-old child, Jaquerrion Dancer. According to a report by Fox 6, the child was admitted to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin on June 5 where doctors found skull fractures, hemorrhaging, and other brain injuries on the kid following which the child succumbed to respiratory failure.
According to investigators, the infant's mother Jessica McNeal and Evans had an altercation when Evans came to McNeal's house to visit the child. McNeal told investigators that once Evans had gotten inside the house he began accusing her of having other men in her house. The report stated that Evans "quickly switched from wanting to see (Jaquerrion) to accusing (McNeal) of having other men in the house."
The police complaint indicates that Evans took McNeal's phone and "and smashed it against the wall". The child's mother told investigators that she had backed off with the child and sat on a mattress when Evans "started punching (McNeal) repeatedly with closed fists, all while (McNeal) was continuing to hold (Jaquerrion)."
According to the police report, McNeal's sister was the one who rushed the infant to the hospital while McNeal called authorities. The police found Evans hiding in a closet at his mother's house. The doctors first noticed the "swelling of the scalp" when the baby was brought to the hospital. The autopsy concluded that the preliminary manner of death was a homicide.
Evans, on being interviewed by the police, accepted that he had an altercation with McNeal at her house. Evans "admitted to being involved in an altercation". The complaint stated that "(Evans) attempted to take (Jaquerrion) away from (McNeal)." Evans "tried to pull (McNeal's) arms off of (Jaquerrion), became frustrated, and began punching (McNeal) repeatedly. Evans believed he struck (Jaquerrion) multiple times with a closed fist."
Evans also has a prior history of being in trouble. In November 2018, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon. For this, he was sentenced to serve 12 months probation and to do 15 hours of community service, according to online court records.
Evans first appeared in court for this case on June 10. The judge found probable cause for further investigation and set a cash bond at $200,000. The preliminary hearing would begin from June 20 onwards. A GoFundMe page has been set up for the boy's funeral.