A child was in critical condition in Orange County on Sunday after being hit by a pickup truck and dragged down a street.

Police said it all happened in front of horrified onlookers who were buying treats from an ice cream truck in the Lockhart area of Orange County, not far from Forest City Road, just after 5 p.m. Saturday.

Jonathan Newkirk, 6, was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital.

The Florida Highway Patrol trooper who is handling the case said the boy and his father don’t live in Lockhart, but instead live in Poinciana in Osceola County.

Witnesses said Jonathan was standing next to an ice cream truck along with some others and was attempting to run back to the sidewalk, where his father was close by. That’s when he was hit by a white pickup truck, police said.

“I was buying ice cream with my brother and one of the little kids ran in front of the ice cream truck to cross the street, and another truck came and hit him and dragged him about 20 feet,” said witness Ronald Cruz. “The little kid was laying there on the ground, and I rushed to him as he was bleeding from his ears and his mouth.”

The driver of the pickup truck was 28-year-old David Diaz, of Orlando. He was taken away by officers but was not arrested and has not been charged so far, police said.

Police said the crash remains under investigation.

Source (article): WESH

Source (picture): ORLANDOHEALTH

HESPERIA, Calif. — A man who authorities say killed his 9-month-old son and himself in San Bernardino County reportedly had details about his murder-suicide plans posted on facebook.

Sheriff’s officials say 25-year-old Stephen Garcia of Pinon Hills was on a court-ordered visit with his son Wyatt Sunday when he drove to a dirt road in Twin Peaks, killed the boy and committed suicide.

The Victorville Daily Press is reporting that Garcia left a chilling Facebook letter, saying he did it out of love in an attempt to save his son from a difficult life.

“I led everyone on my side of the family to believe I wouldn’t of done this because I did not want them to know…” the letter reads.

“I had been thinking about doing this for months.”

Garcia also claimed he carried out his plan in order to punish the baby’s mother, Katie Tagle, for refusing to come back to him, the Daily Press reported.

“Our deaths are a lot for her,” the post continues. “It will have to suffice as her punishment. But that is not the reason I did it. It was the only way we could be happy without Katie. I did this out of love for our son, to protect him and myself.”

The note was reportedly posted on Garcia’s profile about eight hours after he and his son were found dead.

It appeared Garcia arranged to have someone else post the letter on his behalf.

Hesperia Sheriff’s Station received a report Saturday night that Garcia took his son and threatened to kill the child and himself.

Their bodies were found inside his car the next day.

The department did not say how the pair died, only that they “sustained traumatic injuries.”

Garcia’s online post also read as a will and mentioned the use of a gun, the newspaper reported.

Anyone who may have information about this case is asked to call Detective Ryan Ford or Sgt. Frank Montanez at the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail at (909) 387-3589 or call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME.

Source (article): CNN

Source (picture): ALISONTUCK

JACKSON, Ohio - Police say a 4-year-old boy in southern Ohio shot his babysitter because the sitter accidentally stepped on his foot. Police said 18-year-old Nathan Beavers and several other teenagers were babysitting several young children in a mobile home in Jackson on Sunday when the shooting occurred.

Witnesses told police the 4-year-old retrieved the shotgun from a bedroom closet and shot Beavers. Police said the child was angry because Beavers accidentally stepped on his foot.

Beavers was hospitalized with minor pellet wounds to his arm and side.

Police say another teen was also injured with shotgun pellets.

Jackson County Sheriff John Shashteen said authorities are investigating the shooting. The child has not been charged.

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