A 21-year-old Washington, D.C., man faces charges including strangulation and child cruelty after allegedly breaking into his girlfriend's apartment and grabbing their infant by the neck.
Victor Battle Jr. is accused of kicking in the door to his girlfriend's apartment on the 1300 block of Shepherd Street, Northwest, shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday. According to police, he punched the woman in the face and ribs before lifting their baby girl by the neck until she lost consciousness.
A neighbor attempted to intervene, but Battle allegedly tried to strike the person and then left while threatening to return with a gun. Officers responded after the victim called 911, and paramedics took the baby to a hospital for treatment.
Battle was later located and taken to a hospital for a hand injury sustained during the incident. While there, he reportedly became irate, damaged a computer keyboard, and kicked an officer in the leg before being transported to jail.
Battle faces multiple charges including aggravated assault. His next court date has not been scheduled.