Police: Suspect in Child’s Death Faces More Charges

Nicholas Clarence Wade, 22, of Lithonia -- who was arrested in February for allegedly murdering his girlfriend’s 18-month-old child -- faces new charges.

A DeKalb County grand jury brought additional charges against Wade on Thursday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Wade was shot by a DeKalb County deputy in February after he carried a sawed-off shotgun in the parking lot of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, a previous article from AJC reports. Deputies were pursuing Wade on a murder warrant and shot him three times -- face, neck and leg -- after he pointed the shotgun at the deputies.

Two days before Wade was arrested, his girlfriend, Jillian Belk, told police Wade was watching her son, Keon Belk, AJC reports. Wade allegedly called his girlfriend and said the child was having difficulty breathing. According to police, Keon Belk was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived.

Wade was charged with murder after authorities determined that Keon Belk died from internal injuries and a fractured skull, WSB-TV reported.

Wade now faces charges of malice murder, cruelty to children, aggravated assault, possession of an illegal weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to AJC.