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Mom charged with killing baby out of hospital and in jail

Officers say the father was cradling the bloody body of his infant son when they arrived.

UPDATE Nov. 27, 2017: The mother accused of killing her infant son is now of the hospital and in jail on charges of first-degree murder, and court documents are revealing new details about the night a 3-month-old baby was killed

On Nov. 17, horrified witnesses at Town View Towers called police to report a woman hanging a baby over a balcony.

When officers arrived, they found the baby's father, Adrian Howell Sr., sitting outside the apartment, crying and cradling the infant in his arms. The baby, Adrian Prince Howell Jr., was bleeding and unconscious, according to court documents. The infant was transported to UT Medical Center where he was pronounced dead of blunt force trauma to the head and other "numerous other areas of his body."

Officers found the mother, Tierra Patrice Williamson, 19, hiding behind window shades in the apartment. She was initially taken to a hospital, but was released Sunday night and is now behind bars.

UPDATE Nov. 18, 2017: The Knoxville Police Department says a mother is charged with first-degree murder following the death of her 3-month-old baby.

KPD says 3-month-old Adrian Prince Howell, Jr. died from blunt force trauma to his head. While officers are still investigating the incident at 1100 Lula Powell Drive, they say there is no evidence of a shooting or that a weapon was involved.

Officers say the baby's mother, 19-year-old Tierra Patrice Williamson, will be detained on a $100,000 bond after she is discharged from the hospital. She is charged with one count of first-degree murder, according to KPD.

Knoxville Police Public Information Officer Darrell DeBusk said witnesses told police Williamson was dangling the baby over her third story apartment.

"An individual was able to get to her and the baby. The baby was actually inside the apartment with the mom when we arrived on scene," DeBusk said.

Police called in chaplains that night to help officers cope after responding to the scene.

"Seeing the child, having to process the scene, having to take pictures of the baby, that can wear on an individual," DeBusk said.

Saturday, residents at Townview Towers Apartments set out teddy bears and candles to honor baby Adrian's life.

ORIGINAL STORY Nov. 17, 2017: A woman is in custody after she held a 3-month-old baby over the third-floor railing of an apartment building and threatened to kill the infant, according to Knoxville Police.

Officers were called to the Townview Towers Apartments, at 1100 Lula Powell Drive, near downtown shortly before 8:20 p.m.

A KPD spokesperson said 911 callers initially thought a shooting had occurred, but police have not been able to determine whether any gunshots were fired.

KPD spokesperson Darrell DeBusk said officers found the injured baby boy inside the apartment. The baby was taken to UT Medical Center. DeBusk said they are not releasing any information about the baby's condition at this time.

The woman is also being treated at UT Medical Center, and will be interviewed by investigators, DeBusk said.

Officers are also interviewing a male witness at the Safety Building.

DeBusk said officers are working to obtain a search warrant for the apartment. They don't have any preliminary information about a motive.

The woman is a resident of the Townview Towers apartment building.

This story will be updated when more information is available.

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