6-Year-Old Beaten In Bridgeport Assault Declared Brain Dead: Report

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The family of 6-year-old Jathan Escobar are asking for prayers for his recovery, after he, his mother and his 4-year-old brother were beaten in an attack last week in Bridgeport, WFSB-TV Channel 3 reports.

Bridgeport resident Abdulrahim Sulaiman, 38, the children's stepfather, was arrested on attempted murder charges in connection with the assault.

He is reportedly accused of using a baseball bat in the beatings.

Members of Jathan's family told WFSB that he has been declared brain-dead and is on a ventilator. His mother and brother have been released from the hospital, the Connecticut Post reported.

Jathan was "always so happy with everybody," his cousin, Sasha Heron, told WFSB. They are praying for a miracle that he can recover.

At his arraignment hearing in Bridgeport Superior Court last week, Sulaiman reportedly spit at, and fought with, marshals, requiring a gauze spit bag to be placed over his head at one point. He is being held in lieu of bail of $11 million.

Sulaiman reportedly has a violent history, and was recently smoking PCP, his wife told authorities.

Read the WFSB-TV story.