Alabama Girl, 9, Charged With Assault After Beating Younger Brother Who Later Died

A 9-year-old Alabama girl has been charged with assault after she allegedly beat her 4-year-old brother with a broomstick. The boy died later.

Officers responded to a report of a medical emergency at a house in the 1800 block of Jacob Drive around 8.19 a.m. on Feb. 3. First responders found the unresponsive 4-year-old boy with signs of abuse. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy's older sister, who has not been identified publicly, has been accused of hitting the victim with a broomstick and charged with assault, the Mobile County District Attorney's office said Monday.

Yolanda Coale, the children's 53-year-old aunt and legal guardian, said she woke up to the sound of the children's screams Thursday. As she approached the source of the sound, she found the girl hitting the boy, AP News reported. Coale was arrested Friday and charged with one count of aggravated child abuse.

Detectives found signs that the boy suffered from abuse, police spokesperson Corporal Katrina Frazier said, as per AL.com. Court records also indicated that the boy had other bruises on his body. Though it's unclear how he got them, the injuries suggest that the child was subjected to long-term abuse.

The child's body will be sent for an autopsy to determine the cause of his death. Meanwhile, what prompted the girl to attack her brother remains unknown.

Coale's bond has been set at $150,000. She is scheduled to appear at court Wednesday. No one has been charged for the child's death.

The case is currently being investigated by multiple agencies, including the Mobile Police Department and Mobile Fire Rescue.

Last month, police nabbed a 13-year-old boy in Arizona for allegedly stabbing his own mother during a fight over a video game. The mother, identified as 60-year-old Mary Ainuu, ran to a neighbor's house as she bled from cuts to her throat and told them about the brutal attack. The neighbors called 911 and informed authorities that the teen involved in the incident fled the scene. Medical personnel soon arrived and administered first-aid to the victim. She was then brought to a hospital, where she eventually succumbed to her injuries.

As for the teen, police were able to apprehend him a few blocks away from home.