4-year-old Jerusalem boy dies after allegedly being choked by uncle

A 4-year-old boy was declared dead Sunday after he was allegedly strangled by his uncle in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot the previous day.

In a statement, Shaare Zedek Medical Center said “emergency staff and the pediatric intensive care unit fought for hours to save his life but unfortunately we must pronounce the child’s death.”

“We share in the family’s sorrow,” the hospital added.

The announcement came after a Magen David Adom first responder said Saturday that paramedics found the boy without a pulse, but were able to resuscitate him on the way to the hospital and get his heart beating again.

According to an initial police probe, the boy did not respond Saturday morning to the calls of family members. After the father was called home from synagogue, relatives noticed a family member’s door was locked and broke into his room, where they found the boy lying on the floor with signs of strangulation on his neck.

The relative, 27, was then arrested on suspicion of attempted murder by officers called to the scene. Hebrew media outlets on Sunday identified him as the boy’s uncle.

According to reports, the suspect suffers from mental illness.