Father arrested for attempted murder of 3 year old son
Reported by: Jerry Olenyn

Last Update: 5/12 7:47 pm

A 3-year-old Willows boy whose father allegedly struck him was taken to U.C. Davis Medical Center in critical condition Tuesday night. At last check, Christopher Solis Martinez was still in critical condition but was said to be improving. Now his father, a suspected illegal immigrant, faces child endangerment and attempted murder charges after detectives say he admitted to hitting his child.

The alleged assault happened at a house on North Colusa Street in Willows. Jose Luis Martinez allegedly hit his 3 year old son, Christopher, who is now be treated at U.C. Davis after suffering cardiac arrest.

Rich Warren with the Glenn County Sheriff's Office tells Action News the boy was hit in the upper chest. The boy's mother is at the hospital with her son, while the father sits in jail.

Deputies suspect that Martinez became agitated at his son prior to hitting the boy. Warren said "As far as we can tell right now, he was upset. The child had been crying and wanting to do stuff. The father was trying to get him to wait, got upset and struck the child."

Martinez will be arraigned Thursday. Bail was originally set at $50,000, but the judge increased it to $200,000.

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