Today (March 8, 2022), the NOPD upgraded charges against Keriaon Smith (pictured, black female, DOB: 06-02-2002) in the homicide of a six-month-old infant male that occurred on March 5, 2022, in the 1500 block of Saint Louis Street.
At about 12:09 p.m. on March 5, the infant was found unresponsive while in the care of a family friend later identified as Smith. The child was transported via EMS, which child was found to have sustained numerous injuries and was not breathing. The child was transported to a local hospital, where he was subsequently declared deceased. NOPD Child Abuse and Homicide detectives immediately opened an investigation into the incident, and Smith was arrested on March 5 by Child Abuse Unit detectives on a charge of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, pending autopsy results.
Today, autopsy results from the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office ruled the victim’s death to be a homicide. At that time, detectives re-charged Smith with second-degree murder.
Anyone with additional information on this incident is asked to contact NOPD Homicide Unit detectives at 504-658-5300.