Altoona, PA – An Altoona, PA, man is behind bars for doing something so unthinkable it is almost beyond comprehension. On the night of May 25, Bryan Morales Gracia, 34, assaulted a baby before hurling the18-month-old boy into a Pack-n-Play. The toddler landed on a Chihuahua with enough force to kill the dog.
In an Altoona Police Department press release, details from a witness are provided:
A witness to the incident had parked their vehicle at the complex facing the bedroom window of the apartment where they could obviously observe the interior of the bedroom due to the blinds being pulled up. At that time, the witness observed the adult, later identified as ( ) holding the child and repeatedly striking it before then throwing the child into a Pack-n-Play.
Officers who responded to the Evergreen Manors apartment found an injured toddler with red marks on his cheeks, back, and forehead. The baby was transported to UPMC Altoona Hospital for treatment. The officers also observed a deceased Chihuahua; they learned that the baby and dog are often kept in the Pack-n-Play together and on this night, the child was thrown into the Pack-n-Play with such force that it fatally wounded the Chihuahua.
From the Altoona Mirror:
The witness told police she went to the window and yelled at Morales Gracia, telling him to stop hurting the child. At that point, Morales Gracia left the room and then re-entered the room with the child’s mother, who picked up the baby and kept him away from Morales Gracia, stating “stop hitting the baby.”
The horrific incident resulted in multiple charges including felony counts of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children and aggravated cruelty to animals, misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and simple assault, and summary counts of harassment and cruelty to animals. Gracia was booked into the Blair County Prison. His preliminary hearing is set for July 5.
Consider the details of this despicable incident. A GROWN MAN repeatedly assaulted a baby before HURLING him into a Pack-n-Play with enough force to kill a dog!! If you are appalled by what this GROWN MAN did to a baby and a dog, please add your name to the petition today!
We the undersigned demand that Bryan Morales Gracia receive the maximum sentence for each and every charge stemming from this abhorrent incident. Gracia assaulted a baby and killed a dog – he is a menace to society and must face real, significant consequences for his violent behavior.
Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.
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