Police: Foul play suspected in toddler's death

Boy found unresponsive at apartment, dies at Wolfson Children's Hospital

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A child just under 2 years old died under suspicious circumstances Wednesday morning on the Westside, according the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

The child, who was one month shy of his second birthday, was found unresponsive and not breathing at the Hollybrook Homes Apartments on King Street after police received a call at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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They took the boy to Wolfson Children's Hospital, where he died.

Investigators said they do believe foul play is involved in the boy's death, but would not detail the child's injuries. They are investigating his death as a homicide. 

Investigators said the child was with his father and his father's girlfriend and other young children at the time.

Detectives are questioning the boy's father and mother and the father's girlfriend.

"It's very delicate. These are some of the most difficult cases that we investigate as homicide investigators," Sgt. Jay Farhat said. "You have to find that equal medium. You have individuals that just lost a very young child. As a parent myself, I could never imagine having my child go before me, so you want to proceed as gently as you can. However, you need to be able to obtain the necessary information you need to obtain, and sometimes, if it requires us to push those individuals, then that's what we need to do."

Police are trying to obtain a search warrant to investigate inside the apartment where the boy was found.