A St. Petersburg man is facing charges after his young son was hospitalized with severe brain trauma.
Eric Joseph-Kareem Williams, 19, was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated child abuse and violation of probation for carrying a concealed firearm.
According to St. Petersburg police, Williams' 11-month-old son was taken to the hospital on Sunday afternoon by paramedics after he was found unresponsive by a family acquaintance.
Police said the child was suffering from severe brain trauma that required emergency surgery. Doctors said they also found severe burns on the baby's body, and bruising to his chest and face.
Investigators said Williams told them he had lone custody of the child at the time of the injuries, but he maintained they were the result of an accidental fall.
However, a doctor determined that the baby's brain and body injuries were inconsistent with William's explanation of events, and were instead the result of child abuse, police said.
The child remains in critical condition at All Children's Hospital.