Gary police opened an investigation Sunday into the circumstances behind the weekend death of a 5-year-old boy.
Police were called about 8:25 a.m. to a home in the 4300 block of West 20th Avenue on a report of an unresponsive child, Lt. Sam Roberts said. The boy, identified as Cedrick Smith, was declared dead at the scene. Smith lived in the residence, Roberts said.
Smith's mother told police he became sleepy about 7 p.m. Saturday and fell asleep in a living room chair. When family members tried to wake up Smith in the morning, he was unresponsive. At the time of death, Smith's mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a 1-year-old sibling were in the home.
Roberts said because of the child's age and circumstances of death, police are investigating the matter as a homicide. An autopsy on Smith will be performed soon. As of Sunday afternoon, police hadn't taken anyone into custody in connection with the death.
The investigation is being handled by Detective Art Azcona, Roberts said.
It isn't known if Smith had any pre-existing medical conditions.
