Man kills child and himself in Camden
A 25-year-old man killed a 2-year-old child and set fire to an apartment in the Northgate 1 Apartment Complex in Camden before stabbing himself to death, the Camden County prosecutor's office said last night.
Jason Laughlin, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, identified the assailant as Eric Banks Jr. He said Banks stabbed the child and then barricaded himself in the apartment before setting it ablaze.
"It is very unclear why he did this," Laughlin said.
The fire was reported around 9 p.m. Authorities said the blaze was brought quickly under control and was confined to one apartment.
Contact staff writer Chris Mondics at 215-854-5957 or cmondics@phillynews.com.
