‘Suspicious’ death of 2-year-old boy in May ruled as homicide

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has released the cause of death for the toddler who authorities say died “suspiciously” on May 4.

The death of 2-year-old Ona’Je Prince Sincere Jackson has been ruled as a homicide, the examiner reports.

The report says “complications of multiple blunt force injuries” led to the boy’s death in the hospital last spring.

The Minneapolis Police Department is still investigating.

RELATED: Minneapolis toddler who police say died suspiciously identified

RELATED: 2-year-old child dies, Minneapolis police investigate as ‘suspicious death’

Jackson was found unresponsive while with his mother one night in May after Minneapolis police received reports of a child not breathing at a home near the intersection of 24th Street East and Oakland Avenue.

Police say they found Jackson with his mother and began life-saving measures before he was taken to the hospital, where he later died. A 4-month-old male sibling was also taken to the hospital for evaluation.

In the hospital, health care workers diagnosed the baby with numerous injuries, including bruising, possible burns marks, blood in the right eye and a possible chemical burn.

“A Child Abuse Pediatrician treated Victim B and observed several injuries to his face. It was also determined that Victim B suffered multiple rib fractures and had fluid is his abdomen. There was also a positive test result showing that Victim B had been exposed to fentanyl,” a complaint states.

The boys’ mother, Navonna Latina West of Brooklyn Park, is scheduled for an omnibus hearing on Aug. 2 in connection to the 4-month-old boy’s injuries. West faces two felony counts of malicious punishment of a child.

Updates to any charges made in connection to the death of the 2-year-old will be posted when they are available.