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Phoenix Fire: 1-year-old boy found dead in hot car in south Phoenix

Posted at 3:55 PM, Jul 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-30 08:01:00-04

A 1-year-old boy is dead after being found in a hot car in south Phoenix.

Phoenix fire responded to the area of 28th Street and Broadway Road after receiving reports about an injured child.

According to authorities, the child, later identified as Josiah Riggins, had been in the car for several hours before he was found.

The Josiah was under the supervision of his father at the time, Phoenix police said. The man forgot the baby was in the car.

"Initial investigation basically saying that the father forgot that the baby was in the car," Phoenix Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said.

Officials said the father went to the church and discovered the Josiah was in the vehicle and was unresponsive. 

It's believed that the incident was an accident but an investigation is ongoing. Both of the child's parents are cooperating with police; it's unknown if the father will face any charges. 

"There's going to be questions that are going to be asked of the father and when the case is put together, that's when the determination is made if there's going to be an arrest," Fortune said.

The incident happened a day after a 7-month-old boy was found in a hot car near 44th Street and Greenway Road in north Phoenix.

In that case, police say Zane Endress was in the car for “several hours” before he was found. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.

No arrests have been made in connection with that incident.

"We ask...take some time again," Fortune said. "Look inside your vehicle before you put it in drive — before you go anywhere — just to avoid some of these tragedies."