Child allegedly assaulted by mother’s boyfriend in Tacoma dies at hospital
A 2-year-old boy who was hospitalized after a suspected assault in Tacoma has died, police announced Thursday.
Officers were dispatched Nov. 13 at about 10:20 a.m. to an apartment building near St. Helens Avenue after Tacoma Fire Department personnel responded to a report that the boy was not breathing. An investigation into possible child abuse began when officers arrived, according to the Tacoma Police Department on X.
The post said the information that a man who was taking care of the child provided about the boy’s injuries did not match what firefighters and officers saw.
The boy was taken to a local hospital for medical care.
Colby Allen Sorrells, 26, who is the boyfriend of the child’s mother, was arrested for the incident. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree assault of a child, and he pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday. Sorrells is being held at the Pierce County Jail on a $2 million bail, The News Tribune reported.
Sorrells is accused of getting angry at the boy for shutting a toilet seat loudly, which woke the defendant up, according to charging documents.
Documents say the boy had visible trauma to the eyes and ribcage.
The boy was on life support after the incident, his father, John Hurtado, told The News Tribune via phone call Monday.
A GoFundMe was set up to support the child’s family with funeral, burial costs and other expenses.
Police say detectives are still investigating the case.
Prosecutors intend to upgrade Sorrells’ charges, according to Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Adam Faber, but he did not have information on when that will happen.
