Man who tried to drown kids facing murder charge

DURHAM, NC (AP) — A North Carolina man accused of trying to drown his children is now facing a murder charge after his 3-year-old daughter died in a hospital.

A spokeswoman for the Durham Police Department said Thursday that Alan Tysheen Lassiter is now charged with first-degree murder in the death of 3-year-old Calista Lassiter.

It was three days ago that, according to police, Alan Lassiter tried to drown the girl and her sister in a pond at an apartment complex. Police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said the child was entirely underwater when an off-duty sheriff’s deputy pulled her from the pond Sunday night.

“I saw one kid above water, crying,” Deputy David Earp said. “And then I saw another one who was completely submerged in water. So I dropped some of my equipment and I immediately just ran into the water and grabbed both of them.”

Lassiter was originally charged with three counts of attempted murder for trying to kill the girl, her sister and their brother. He is currently jailed under a $2 million bond.

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