A Gaithersburg teen was charged as an adult Thursday with killing his 2-year-old son.
Darryl E. Powell, 17, of the 9400 block of Merust Lane, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Zjaire Williams, who lived with his mother on Damascus Park Terrace in Damascus, according to a statement from Montgomery County Police.
Powell called Zjaire's mother on Tuesday and asked if the boy could visit and sleep over, police said. She brought her son to Powell's house around 2 a.m. Wednesday, police said.
Powell and Zjaire watched television and then fell asleep on different couches that night, police said. Powell woke up and could not wake his son, who was face down on cushions on the floor, police said.
Powell called family members for help and then called 9-1-1, police said.
Police and rescue personnel were called to Powell's house at 6 a.m. and found Zjaire "unresponsive."
The boy was pronounced dead at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. At the hospital it was learned that Zjaire had bruises on his body and cuts to his upper and lower lips. The boy's body was sent to the state Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.
The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide "caused by multiple injuries," including to his head and abdomen, police said.
Police said Zjaire "seemed to be in good condition when he was dropped off" at Powell's residence.
A police spokeswoman said at 1:20 p.m. Friday that no one was available to answer questions about this case until 2:30 p.m.