Police hunt for teen suspect in death of girlfriend’s baby

Las Vegas police are searching for an 18-year-old man wanted in connection with the slaying of a 16-month-old toddler who was left in his care last week.

According to an arrest warrant, Jocquise Coleman faces charges of murder and child abuse with substantial bodily harm.

Police accuse Coleman in the death of 16-month-old Lamaj Terry. The toddler died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center on Thursday after he was pronounced brain dead and taken off life support.

The report said Lamaj suffered blunt force trauma to his head and abdomen.

Lamaj was left in Coleman's care for several days when the baby's mother, 19-year-old Brittany Terry, was at work.

The report said Coleman had been dating Terry for three or four weeks.

Paramedics found Lamaj unresponsive Wednesday afternoon at an apartment at 5150 Spyglass Hill Drive, near Charleston and Nellis boulevards.

Two residents at the complex rushed into the apartment after hearing shouts that the toddler was unresponsive. They told police that he had bruises on his head and face and that his lips were blue.

Coleman called Terry to tell her that her son was not well Wednesday, but he was not at the apartment when she arrived and found paramedics treating her baby.

The report said Terry called Coleman from the hospital. He told Terry that he believed Lamaj had died but that he was not responsible for the death. Coleman told Terry the boy had played outside with neighbor children earlier in the day.

Antoine Coward, 22, the father of Lamaj, took the phone from Terry and also spoke with Coleman. He urged him to come to the hospital to speak with police. Coleman never showed up.

Anyone with information about Coleman's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.