Father Arrested In Child's Death, Neighbors Stunned

The father of a 4-month-old boy, 33-year-old Christopher Durant, was arrested Thursday morning in connection with the infant's death.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said officers went to a home on Ventura Way on Tuesday to assist in a medical call. Emergency responders found the infant, who was unresponsive, police said.

One neighbor said he talked to Durant on Tuesday night.

"He says, 'my baby just passed away.' I was like 'for real?' He was crying, holding his head down," said that neighbor.

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The child was taken to Presbyterian Hospital. Staff members there told police he showed signs of physical abuse, CMPD officials said.

At that point, detectives with the Homicide and Family Services Unit began an investigation, processing the home for evidence and interviewing the infant's parents.

On Tuesday evening, hospital staff members notified police that the infant had died.

Police said the preliminary investigation and the findings of the medical examiner gave them enough evidence to obtain a murder warrant for Durant.

Neighbors said Durant also has a 6-year-old son and appeared to be an attentive father.

"Every time I saw him, he was either up at the bus stop, making sure his kids got off the bus or I seen him walking around with them strapped to his back," said neighbor Randy King.

King was shocked he saw the police report alleging physical abuse.

"I wouldn't say he seemed like a parent who was abusive, or had an uneven temperament or anything like that. He seemed like he was taking care of his kids," said King.

Neighbors said they had seen police in the apartment for the last two days and thought a criminal charge would be coming.

Durant was arrested once before for assaulting a woman two years ago.