Sebastian Landa

Sebastian Landa, a 21-day-old Latino, died Saturday, July 16, after he was beaten in the 7100 block of Makee Avenue in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood of South Los Angeles, according to authorities. 

Landa, who was born on June 25, was taken to a hospital with multiple blunt force injuries about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. John Corina. 

His mother, Calixta Landa, 21, told doctors that her baby had fallen, but doctors told investigators that the injuries looked more like physical abuse, Corina said. 

Landa later told investigators that she hit her baby earlier that day and then took him to the hospital, Corina said. 

“She admitted to being frustrated,” he said. “The baby was crying. She got frustrated and then she got physical with the baby, and the baby ended up with blunt force trauma.”

Landa was arrested at her home on July 15, and pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and assault on a child causing death, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records. Her next hearing is on Aug. 2 at the Norwalk Courthouse. She is being held in lieu of $2-million bail.

Corina said Landa was a single mother who lived with her mother and other family members, who were not with her when the baby was hit. 

Sebastian was Landa’s second child, he said. The first, an 18-month-old, was uninjured.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.