Murder and assault charges were filed Monday against a 22-year-old South Gate man in connection with the February death of his 5-month old daughter.
South Gate police officers responded to a call of a baby not breathing in a home in the 8000 block of California Avenue about 5 a.m. on Feb. 23 and when they arrived, they saw paramedics performing life-saving efforts on the girl, who died at the scene, according to Deputy Michelle Sanchez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
An autopsy was performed on Feb. 27 and the coroner's office determined the victim did not die of natural causes, but that there was evidence of traumatic injury and ruled the girl's death a homicide, Sanchez said. South Gate police requested the sheriff's Homicide Bureau assist in the investigation.
The victim's father, Jose Francisco Aleman, was arrested Thursday and booked for murder and assault on a child causing death, Sanchez said.
Aleman's arraignment was postponed until March 26.
The victim's name was not released by the Sheriff's Department because of her age.
