Police: 3-year-old suffers significant injuries; man charged with attempted homicide

STOWE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man has been charged with attempted homicide after a 3-year-old boy suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured left arm, police said.

A 911 call alerted authorities to the apparent assault, and detectives from the Allegheny County Police Department responded to a hospital to assist with the investigation, authorities said.

In addition to the fractured arm, the boy suffered significant injuries to his arms, legs, chest, and groin, according to a news release. He's still recovering at Children's Hospital.

The assault happened Wednesday in Stowe Township.

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The child's mother, Janet Zigler, was at school and Jerrard Littlejohn was home with her son.

She told police she didn't notice the child's injuries until the next day when she saw he was limping.

She said her 3-year-old son said Littlejohn had "punched him in the groin five times, punched him in the chest and beat him with a belt."

According to the criminal complaint, Littlejohn told the child not to tell anyone.

Littlejohn also reportedly told the boy's mother not to call police, but after he left to buy cigarettes, she called 911 and her son was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

The Munhall man was arrested Thursday evening by police in West Homestead.

According to the criminal complaint, Littlejohn was out on bond for an assault on the same child, his 1-year-old sibling and Ziegler two months ago in the same house.

Littlejohn has a history of violence toward women and children. Channel 11 learned that in 2014 Littlejohn was jailed for kidnapping and assaulting his then-girlfriend.

He is charged with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, endangering the welfare of children, intimidation of a witness and criminal solicitation to hinder apprehension.

There is no update on the child's condition, but he is expected to survive.

Cox Media Group