News on the go

By Times Staff Writers
Published January 7, 2008

LAUDERHILL

Boy, 12, charged in beating death of 17-month-old

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with fatally beating a toddler he was babysitting, police said. Authorities did not identify the boy because of his age, but say he used a baseball bat to beat the 17-month-old girl because she was making noise while he was trying to watch TV. Investigators said the boy said he was home alone with a 10-year-old girl and the toddler when she began to cry, which angered him. The relationship between the three was not clear. At some point, an adult called 911. The girl, Shaloh Joseph, was rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead of blunt force trauma to the head, Lauderhill police spokesman Lt. Mike Cochran said. He said the boy confessed and was arrested Saturday on first-degree murder charges. He was arraigned in juvenile court Sunday and remained in custody, but it was not clear if he had an attorney or if anyone else would be charged in the girl's death. The case is not the first in Florida where a boy so young has been charged in the death of a child. Lionel Tate was 12 when he beat and stomped to death a playmate half his age, a case that sparked national and international attention. He was convicted as an adult of first-degree murder, but the conviction was thrown out in 2004, and Tate pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

CRYSTAL RIVER

Manatee Festival set this weekend

Can't get enough of those lovable Florida manatees? Head to Citrus County on Saturday and Sunday for the 21st annual Florida Manatee Festival in downtown Crystal River. There will be plenty of educational information about the sea creatures, as well as boat tours where you can see them up close and personal. The event also includes food, entertainment and a craft show sponsored by the Crystal River Rotary. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2. For information, call (352) 795-3149.

TAMPA

No one injured in early morning fire

Tampa Fire Rescue put out a fire at 1510 99th Ave. early Sunday morning. The wood frame home had no working smoking alarms, according to fire officials. Around 3:15 a.m., three fire engines and a ladder truck responded to a report of smoke coming from the house. The blaze was under control within 20 minutes, Fire Rescue spokesman Jace Kohan said, and no one was injured.

Times staff, wires

[Last modified January 6, 2008, 23:19:35]