GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — A father told authorities he struck his 2-month-old baby several times out of anger because the infant would not stop crying.
News outlets reported Friday that the infant was diagnosed with severe head trauma and is in critical condition.

Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson says American Medical Response personnel responded to a call about a baby having difficulty breathing. The child was taken to a hospital and investigators responded to interview the parents.

The father, 21-year-old Buddy Randall Cox, told authorities he hit the baby several times out of anger because the child wouldn’t stop crying. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with one felony count of child abuse causing serious bodily harm.

It’s unclear if Cox has a lawyer who could comment.