Miami Man Charged With Murder In 4-Year Old's Death

MIAMI (CBS4) - A judge has ordered that a Miami man be held with bond after he reportedly beat a four-year old girl to death.

Miami police said Monday night just after 10 p.m. officers and fire rescue personnel were sent to a residence in the 62-hundred block of NW 3rd Avenue to check out reports of an unresponsive child.

Fire rescue rushed the girl, identified as Brianna Johnson, to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Pediatric Trauma Unit where she died.

Originally Johnson's death was listed as 'unclassified'. An examination of her body, however, found severe trauma to her liver and other vital organs. The Medical Examiner's Office reclassified her death as a murder.

Police said on the night she died Johnson had been with her mother's boyfriend - 20-year old Calvin Lewis.  Police did not say where the child's mother, 22-year old Ebony Lawson, was at the time.  During questioning, Lewis reportedly admitted that he had played her in a 'rough manner' before she became unresponsive.

Lewis was arrested and charged with first degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

"It's just sad, it's really sad," said Lawson's neighbor Rosella Baker, "It's hard to even hear thins like that going on."

"That's cruel for a four year old, but she's in peace now, she's in a better place," said Juliette Campos.

During his appearance in bond court Thursday morning, Lewis was dressed in clothing used for prisoners on suicide watch.

The Department of Children and Families said they've had no prior problems with Lewis, but have had prior contact with Brianna Johnson and her mother.   The agency declined to give details on the prior circumstances.