Louisiana man accused of punching 5-year-old boy, causing life-threatening injuries

According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, the child was brought to an area hospital in October 2019 with "multiple bruises and marks on his back, legs, buttocks, eye, abdomen, arms, and chest," WAFB reported. The child told hospital staff Lewis whipped him with a belt and punched him in the stomach several times, the television station reported,

Doctors discovered a laceration on the boy's liver and bruising on his kidney, according to WAFB. The boy's injuries were deemed life-threatening, and he was taken into the intensive care unit for treatment, the television station reported.

The boy's mother, who said Lewis was not his biological father, said she was not home at the time of the alleged incident, WAFB reported. The woman said her three other children were home and confirmed Lewis had struck the boy, the television station reported.