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Police: 11-year-old boy charged in death of 7-month-old

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police: 11-year-old boy charged in death of 7-month-old

Charlotte police announced the arrest of an 11-year-old for felony child abuse on the same day that family members held a visitation for 7-month-old Camden Johnson. His is funeral Friday.

A relative told Channel 9 that Wendy Johnson loved her son and wouldn't hurt him.

Wendy Johnson was charged Monday with killing him.

Charlotte- Mecklenburg police said she made one fatal error when she left the baby home alone with the 11-year-old relative over the weekend. The child died from injuries he suffered at his mother's home on Suntrace Way in northwest Charlotte.

During a news conference Thursday, Capt. Cecil Brisbon said they will not drop felony child abuse and involuntary manslaughter charges against Johnson.

"We don't charge people just to say we charged somebody. If we charge you with a criminal offense, that's a criminal offense that actually occurred," said Brisbon.

Police said they interviewed the 11-year-old relative who caused the fatal injuries.

As she left court Tuesday, Johnson's mother told us the 11-year-old child was jealous of the
baby.

She told Eyewitness News when the baby cried the 11-year-old child intentionally dropped him on the floor three times.

Susan Campbell, the executive director of Council for Children's Rights, said, "This situation is a travesty on every level. The 11-year-old is a baby in and of himself."

Robert McCarter, attorney for the council, said a child under 13 years old cannot be charged as an adult.

"Their brains haven't developed to the point that they can understand sometimes the seriousness of the crimes that they are charged with," McCarter said.

While Johnson is facing felony charges and the possibility of prison time, the 11-year-old child accused of causing the injuries will likely be given psychological treatment if he is found responsible.

Johnson is in jail and the 11-year-old child is in the custody of family members and because he is a juvenile his hearings may be closed to the public.

Read previous coverage on this story: Grandmother claims mother wasn't home when 7-month-old died

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