Tucson father charged in death of his 10-month-old baby

A Tucson father has been charged with second-degree murder and child abuse in the death of his 10-month-old child, police said.

Paramedics were called to an apartment complex in the 4800 block of East Pima Street on Oct. 21, where a child was experiencing seizures. The child was taken to Tucson Medical Center in critical condition and was later transferred to Banner University Medical Center for emergency surgery, the Tucson Police Department said in a news release.

Detectives from the department's Child Abuse Unit were contacted to conduct a preliminary investigation and to interview the child's father, 28-year-old Jimmy Torre McElroy.

On Oct. 30, detectives learned from medical personnel that the child's injuries were consistent with blunt-force trauma. At that time, McElroy was charged on suspicion of two counts of child abuse and booked into the Pima County jail.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, police learned the child had died of the injuries. McElroy's charges were amended to second-degree murder and child abuse, police said.