A story for every victim

William Brian Meeks III, 2

William Brian Meeks III, a 2-year-old boy, died Sunday, June 16, 2019, two days after he suffered from blunt force trauma in the 900 block of Daisy Avenue in Long Beach, according to police.

On June 14 about 7:35 p.m., officers from the Long Beach Police Department responded to the parking lot of a liquor store for a medical emergency involving William, according to a news release from the department.

Police found the child in the arms of a good Samaritan who was trying to help him. William was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead two days later.

An autopsy performed by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office found that William died from intentional blunt force trauma to the head, police said.

On Jan. 19, detectives arrested Charles Edward Davis Jr., a 32-year-old black man, on suspicion of murder, police said.

Davis has been charged with murder and assault on a child causing death, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Police said during their investigation that they learned that Davis was alone with William inside a 2016 silver Hyundai Sonata when an assault took place.

Detectives believe that Davis is an “acquaintance” of the child’s mother.

The Homicide Report has not reported the child's race because the case is on a security hold with the coroner's office, preventing the coroner from releasing information about the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (562) 570-7244. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

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