Cobb County police arrested a 12-year-old boy Tuesday on charges he killed his 5-week-old cousin.
Officers found the infant unresponsive in a car parked outside the Target on Dallas Highway in Marietta around 8 p.m. Saturday, Cobb County Police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce said.
The mother left the infant inside the car with the 12-year-old boy while she went into Target. She came out and found the baby not breathing, Pierce said.
The mother, a 22-year-old from Kennesaw, immediately called 911 from her cellphone, Pierce said.
"The injuries to the child occurred when she was in the store," he said.
Paramedics rushed the baby, who was not breathing, to Kennestone Hospital. She was later transferred to Egleston Hospital, where she was taken off life support and pronounced dead Sunday night.
An autopsy conducted Monday shows the infant died of blunt force trauma to the head, Pierce said.
On Tuesday, police charged the 12-year-old boy, who is from Tampa, with felony murder and cruelty to children. He is being held at the Cobb County Juvenile Detention Center.
Police did not identify the infant or her mother. Investigators said they do not anticipate charging the mother.
Piece said he could not discuss the motive or manner of death. Police said they have spent the past few days interviewing the boy and the mother, and the investigation is ongoing.
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