A DeKalb County grand jury has indicted a man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 18-month-old son.
Nicholas Clarence Wade, 22, of Lithonia, was babysitting the toddler, Keon Belk, in February when Wade called 911 to report the child wasn't breathing, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
Wade’s girlfriend, Jillian Belk, told police she left her son with Wade, who later called his girlfriend from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston with the toddler, according to police. Wade told Belk the child was having difficulty breathing, so he called 911. The boy was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived, the police report states.
Keon, who later died, had a cracked liver and fractured skull, according to police.
Two days later, Wade was shot by a DeKalb County deputy in the parking lot of New Birth Missionary Church in Lithonia after Wade allegedly pointed a sawed-off shotgun at the deputy, The AJC reported. Deputies were pursuing Wade when he allegedly drove into the church parking lot, police previously said. Wade was shot three times, once in the leg, once in the face, and once in the neck.
Robert James, DeKalb County District Attorney, told Channel 2 Action News that parents have to understand that not everyone should be left alone with their child.
“Just know who they are. Know them,” James said. “You can’t just date someone and trust that person to the care of your child.”
Wade remained late Tuesday in the DeKalb jail.
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