Brandon Man Beat Boy, 3, Deputies Say

A 21-year-old man faces aggravated battery charges after authorities say he severely beat his girlfriend's 3-year-old son inside the couple's Brandon  apartment.

• Update, see Boy's Abuse Is 'Incomprehensible' Deputy Declares, in which Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Larry McKinnon bemoans the reality that all too often cases of domestic violence harm the innocent child. Includes a video accounting of the incident.

On June 7, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detectives reportedly heard a confession from Dontevious Gardner, of 2207 Kendall Springs Court. Detectives say Gardner and his live-in girlfriend got into an argument Tuesday, June 4 in their apartment, the day before Gardner turned 21.

During the argument, the girlfriend went into her bedroom while her son was in another bedroom.

Gardner heard the child crying and went inside his room, striking him a number of times in the head with the heel of his hand, a sheriff's office media release said. Gardner then forced the child to maintain a push up position until he became unconscious.

The release said Gardner then picked the boy up and violently shook him in an effort to wake him up. He remained unresponsive, so Gardner took him to the bathroom and held the boy under a shower.

Gardner then dropped the child, resulting in the boy striking his head on the edge of the porcelain tub.

When Gardner told the boy's mother what happened, she called 911, and the child was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated. The boy is in critical condition with severe head trauma, authorities say.

A 1-year-old child, who was also inside the apartment, was not injured. That child has been removed from the home and was placed in a shelter until the investigation is completed.

Gardner was on probation for unrelated charges of armed carjacking and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, authorities say. His probation status was revoked, and he is being held in the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

Check back with Brandon Patch for additional coverage from editor Linda Chion Kenney.