Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: July 25, 2006

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Man arrested for death of child

Shreveport police have made an arrest in connection with the death of a 22-month-old child that occurred on Thursday, July 20. Johnathon Givens, 25, of Shreveport has been charged with second-degree murder. He is the boyfriend of the child's mother and was the caregiver at the time of the boy's death.

Givens called police at 11:30 a.m. on July 20, claiming that the child had ingested some type of poison. Paramedics responded to the 2000 block of Linear Street and took the child to LSU Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival. Investigators determined that the incident actually occurred in the 1700 block of Peach Street.

Preliminary autopsy results revealed severe internal injuries to the child, which were consistent with some type of physical abuse. The coronor has not ruled on the official cause of death at this time, pending additional autopsy results.

The investigation is continuing and additional charges could be forthcoming.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews