Mom Allegedly Threw 2 Kids From Bridge, Killing Infant; Woman Arrested

A 32-year-old mother has been arrested for allegedly throwing two of her children from a bridge in Louisiana Friday, killing one infant, police said.

Ureka Black is facing second-degree murder and attempted murder charges after she allegedly tossed her two boys from Cross Lake Bridge and into the waters of Shreveport's Cross Lake, KSLA reported, citing the Shreveport Police Department.

Shreveport police received a call Friday morning about a child in the water near the bridge, a spokesperson with the department said. The infant was dead when marine patrol officers found him.

Authorities expanded their search and found a second child, a 5-year old boy, floating in the water.

The child was brought to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries but was expected to recover, police said.

Detectives were able to talk to the boy, who helped them identify Black as the mother of the two children. The names of the kids have not been released.

Several agencies searched the waters for Black’s third child. But detectives were later able to confirm that the third child was never in the water and is safe.

“My heart is just so broken with this event that has occurred today,” said Wayne Smith, substitute chief for the Shreveport Police Department.

Officials put out a BOLO — “be on the lookout” — warning after Black fled the scene in a gray Dodge Caravan with Texas plates.

Black was apprehended near the Texas border by Waskom, Texas, police officers after she was spotted at a rest stop.

“This is a tragedy, and we ask for prayers for the children and their family,” SPD Sgt. Angie Wilhite said to WGNO. “Pray for our law enforcement officers that have been out here all day, all morning working on this. Our firefighters, Life Air, our dive teams with the Caddo Sheriff’s Department, and the police department. It’s been a multi-agency effort. Unfortunately, there’s no happy ending to this, but we do have the suspect in custody. Our detectives are working right now on interviews and recovering more evidence in the case.”

Black is now being held without bond in Texas. She remained in custody in the state Friday night, awaiting extradition back to Caddo Parish, Louisiana.