ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A 5-week-old baby is fighting for his life and his teen father is now in jail for child abuse.
Deputies say the teen admitted to violently shaking his baby to try and get him to stop crying.
Doctors quickly realized the 5-week-old in this case had head injuries that were not accidental.
The baby was taken to Christus St. Vincent Hospital on Monday after a family member showed up to the baby’s home and saw it purple and gasping for air. They quickly called 911.
Doctors say a CT scan shows the 5-week-old had signs of shaken baby syndrome. That’s when he was rushed UNMH.
The father,17-year-old Javier Chavez, told deputies the baby wouldn’t stop crying as he was trying to force-feed him a bottle. The teen says he had taken the baby’s 16-year-old mom to school and was overwhelmed with his son’s crying.
At one point, Chavez says he violently shook the baby and put his hand over his mouth and nose for one-two minutes. That’s when the baby started struggling to breathe.
The baby’s father was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm. Detectives say more charges are possible.
“I would imagine that these are cases that are some of the toughest for the detectives to deal with because you’re talking about an innocent 5-week-old newborn child,” said Juan Rios of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
The baby is still in the hospital in critical condition. He’s receiving advanced medical treatment in Albuquerque for brain injuries.
Doctors say the baby was having seizures. Right now, the charges Chavez is facing could put him in jail for six years. That changes to life if the baby doesn’t survive.
