Whisper
#byefelicia
FAST FACTS:
A Hickory Hill man is charged with Aggravated Child Abuse
Police say he was beating his girlfriend's six-year-old son
The boy was taken to the hospital in critical condition
http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-hicko...child-abuse-20120125,0,844797.story?track=rssShenika Payne was shocked to find out her neighbor, 27-year-old Draun Fitzgerald was charged with Aggravated Child Abuse after a police say he beat his girlfriend's 6-year-old son with his hands, feet, belt, and even the handle of a hammer.
"No child deserves to be beaten," said Payne. "Children are innocent."
The boy's mother called police Tuesday after she found her son drifting in and out consciousness.
The 6-year-old was taken to Lebonhuer in critical condition, but not before telling police that Fitzgerald hit him, kicked him, and pushed him down.
"If the little boy said that, I have to give what he said some weight," said Joe Williams, a neighbor.
He says he isn't convinced Fitzgerald did what he is being accused of.
"I've never seen that man exhibit that kind of behavior like that so personally I don't believe it," said Williams.
He believes the boy’s mother is the wild one in that home and says she has a role to play in this abuse.
"She comes over here and she raises hell, knives, spinning out in the street, driving crazy, kicking on doors and stuff like that," said Williams.
However, the Memphis Police Department says it is unknown at this point whether the mother will be charged. Neighbors can agree they're glad the boy is finally safe...
"I can't say whether he did it or not, but for everybody leave these kids alone," said Williams. "You're supposed to be nurturing them."
[...]
He is currently in jail on a $100,000 bond.