Written by: E. George
Published March 27, 2024 @ 9:30 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against children.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – At 11:17 PM on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, officers responded to Fire Station 14 on Lee Street regarding an unresponsive child. Officials explained that six-year-old Tobias Perkins Jr. was severely beaten and succumbed to his injuries; he was pronounced deceased at Children’s Hughes Spalding Hospital.
The boy’s mother’s boyfriend faces charges of murder and first-degree cruelty to children following an investigation conducted by the Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit. He allegedly “knowingly and intentionally” struck Perkins Jr. repeatedly at a Sparks Street home.
Police said 24-year-old Dashon Jones was babysitting Perkins Jr. and his four siblings while their mother tended to a family situation.
The victim’s older sister told police that she heard loud banging emanating from the room that Jones and her brother occupied. Shortly after, Jones emerged, carried Perkins Jr.’s lifeless body into the bathroom, and placed him in the tub.
Perkins Jr.’s grandfather arrived, found him unresponsive, and drove him to a nearby fire station for assistance.
According to his autopsy report, Perkins Jr. sustained several blunt-force injuries to his head and abdomen and a substantial laceration to his liver, which caused him to bleed internally and expire. Jones’ warrants revealed, “The medical examiner stated the child would have been down within minutes of the injury.”
Perkins Jr.’s father, Tobias Perkins Sr., created a GoFundMe account to assist with his son’s burial expenses. The victim’s cousin, Cedric Perkins, described Perkins Jr. as energetic, caring, sweet, happy, and full of life, and he loved to share.
Cedric lamented to Channel 2 Action News, “There is no taking this back. This hurts. This hurts.”
He said he and his relatives are “devastated. This sudden tragedy hit our family. And two years ago, I lost my mom, which was his sister (my uncle’s sister). And now, he’s having to face another tragedy by losing his son, who’s named after him.”
He declined to speak about Perkins Jr.’s mother, but he indicated that Perkins Sr. is trying his best to cope with this tragic loss. The victim’s family is seeking additional information from authorities and recommends that parents and guardians speak with their children about safety.
Jones’ warrants were sent to the Fulton County Jail, where he was already detained for unrelated charges. Online records revealed that he had an active drug-related case in the county.
Jones was the only adult in the home at the time of the crime. He remains detained without a bond.
This case is pending in court.