Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a 5-year-old child.
Denzel Jamal Blakely, 29, has been charged with one count of capital murder, and Lachelle Renae Washington, 31, has been charged with one count of child deprivation of necessaries with substantial harm. Both allegedly admitted to police that they were culpable. Washington is his mother.
Police say on the morning of April 14 officers responded to the 3300 block of 39th Avenue on a medical emergency of a 5-year-old child. Responders took the child to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy showed the child had blunt force trauma wounds, causing the death to be classified as a homicide.
Blakely and Washington were taken to the Harrison County Adult Detention Facility, where Blakely is being held with no bond and Washington’s bond was set at $50,000.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.
