Investigation underway after death of 2-month-old in Newport housing development

A 17-year-old has been taken into custody by Newport police following the death of a 2-month-old child.

Newport police said that at about 10:55 p.m. Thursday they, along with Newport Fire Department personnel responded to the Festival Field Housing Development following a report of an unresponsive 2-month-old child. Police said the child was transported to the Newport Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Upon further investigation by Newport Police detectives, the 17-year-old juvenile was taken into custody for felony delinquent charges and will be arraigned in family court.

Later Friday morning, police said that while Fire Department personnel were in their rescue performing life-saving measures on the 2-month-old child, "a large unruly crowd began to form where a physical altercation broke out." According to police, while officers attempted to break up the altercation, one officer was punched in the face.

Due to the large unruly crowd, police said no immediate arrests were made at the scene.

The Rhode Island State Medical Examinator's office will be performing an autopsy on the infant.

Both the death and the alleged assault on the officer remain under investigation

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Death of 2-month-old in Newport under investigation by police