Baby boy killed by another child in Hamilton

Hamilton police say a one-month old baby boy who died last year was a victim of homicide by another child.

The Hamilton Police homicide unit has completed their investigation and no charges will be laid in this matter as the individual involved is below the age of criminal responsibility," police said in a release Tuesday.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act starts at age 12, which means children under that age cannot be charged.

The investigation began in early 2021 after a 911 call for an unresponsive infant, police said. Hamilton paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but could not revive the baby.

Any sudden death of a child under five is investigated by police, so the homicide unit was called in.

On March 9, 2022 the Ontario Forensic Pathology Unit determined the boy's death was caused by blunt-force trauma to his head, police said.

The death marks the 20th homicide in Hamilton in 2021 - a record high for the city.

Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com