By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
It’s been a very tragic couple of days for Minnesota Vikings player Adrian Peterson and his family. As we reported recently, the NFL star’s 2-year-old son was severely beaten and the child’s attacker was his mother’s boyfriend. The attack left the child in critical condition and it was reported that the likelihood of him surviving was very slim. Now it’s been confirmed by CNN that the child has passed away. According to the report, Siox Falls, South Dakota police have confirmed that the child died today of his injuries. Apparently the child’s grandfather confirmed the news to a Minnesota newspaper.
The attacker, Joseph Robert Patterson, has been charged with aggravated battery of an infant and assault, and if he is convicted of both charges which happen to be felonies, he will face up to 40 years in prison. He also faces a $80,000 fine.
It’s also being reported that prosecutors are looking into filing additional charges, however, it is unknown what those possible charges could be.
Interestingly enough, police are claiming Patterson called the police to report the child was unconscious, but he told the authorities that the child was choking. Medical experts were able to figure out that the injuries the child suffered match those of a child who had been abused, and he was the only person with the child at the time of the incident.
Adrian Peterson told reporters at a press conference earlier today that he plans on playing this week, however, he made the comments before the child’s death, so it is unknown at this moment if he plans to follow through with his original plans.
The football player did take to his Twitter account to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers, as well as the entire league for rallying behind him. He tweets:
Thank you to my family, my fans and fans of other teams for their support.
The NFL is a fraternity of brothers and I am thankful for the tweets, phone calls and text messages from my fellow players.
God Bless everyone and thank u so much.
The entire staff is keeping Adrian and his family in our prayers during such a difficult time.
NOOOO!!!!!!!!
This is so sad. May God be with the family.
I’m really at a loss of words.
Me too.
So sad.
I just don’t understand how any human being could do this to a child.
I really hope someone catches up to that evil bastard that did this.
I am just speechless. Praying for Adrian and his family.
SMDH. No words.
All I can do is pray. It’s so unfortunate that there are people out here who have no problems hurting a child. I cannot even imagine what Adrian and his family are feeling right now. God bless them.
Give that piece of sh-t the death penalty.
I gotta agree with you on this one.
This makes my heart hurt. My God…
Oh my God.
So sad!!!!
We always have to watch who we bring around our children. It’s some sick people out here.
I’m praying for Adrian and his family. This is so heartbreaking.
They need to charge that man for murder!
Moments like this I have to question the society we live in. What kind of person does something like this?
Damn.
I know what I’m about to say won’t be popular on here, but what the hell was this child’s mother thinking?! The man has previous assault charges and had attacked another woman before! He clearly had anger issues and I’m willing to bet my whole salary that he was abusive to her too. She knew who she was dealing with and still left that a-shole with her child. When will some women understand that having a man just to say you have a man isn’t smart?! Smh!
You bring up a very good point that needs to be addressed. We see this too often where some women leave their children with boyfriends or whoever and the child ends up getting harmed and now murdered. In the last 2 weeks this is the 2nd child that I have read being murdered by their mothers boyfriend. First the little girl in Palmdale and now Adrian’s little boy. I hope this is a wake up call for women not to bring anybody around their children. Lord help us and protect over these little angels.
You spoke the uncomfortable truth. Thank you.
Gone way too soon.
God bless his sweet soul………
When this little boy was taken to emergency Adrian Peterson was at football practice. When this little boy was fighting for his life Adrian Peterson was at football practice. When this little boy passed away Adrian Peterson was at football practice. Adrian Peterson just had a press conference announcing he would not miss his game on Sunday and thanked the football community. The disconnection between black men (not all of them) and their children is really sad. These football players will kill for their mothers. Say “hi mom” every Sunday but can’t connect emotionally with their children in the same way. Being a star in the field is not enough. A 2 year old needed his dad to hold his hand and tell him he loves him and be there when he took his last breath not giving press conferences assuring his team that he will be playing football on Sunday. Finding your “own way” to deal with this tragedy is selfish when your child needs you to be there to kiss him goodbye. I’m so glad God has his loving arms around thus baby because his own father didn’t.
single mother’s, let’s be extra mindful of the men we bring around our families. We have to protect our babies. Sorry for going on, but men sometimes have to be told that children are blessings and are to be put first. RIP sweetie
Oh my goodness, so sad. My heart is heavy…RIP baby…
This is so very sad.
I wasn’t trying to be an a-s and I know he went to see his son for a little while yesterday but he should have stayed. His son passed away without his daddy by his side. That’s very hard to hear. PS…fathers are important too.
With love