Mother Faces Charges as Toddler Fights for Life in Hospital
A toddler is currently fighting for his life at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Amir Bennett, a once-joyful child who loved the color green, is now in critical condition, according to his grandmother, Shannon Boyd.
“He was a great baby; he didn’t cry and smiled all the time,” she shared, reminiscing about Amir before the tragic incident that occurred on September 25, 2024.
Cleveland police were alerted to the hospital after Amir was found unresponsive. According to a police report, Amir’s mother, Aryiel Bennett, left him in the care of her 19-year-old boyfriend, Ronnie Chambers, while she went to work. When she returned home, Amir appeared fine, but an argument soon ensued between Bennett and Chambers.
During the dispute, it is alleged that Chambers fired a gun, which struck the wall. Bennett fled the apartment but returned just minutes later to find Amir bleeding from the head.
The police report states that Bennett claimed Chambers pulled out a gun and fired a shot, hitting Amir while he was sleeping. However, investigators found inconsistencies in her account. The placement of Amir’s bed and the bullet’s trajectory did not align with her explanation.
“He experienced blunt force trauma to his head; something made contact with his head,” Boyd said, adding that Amir suffered a skull fracture severe enough to require part of his skull to be removed.
Recently, Amir celebrated his third birthday in the hospital. Boyd revealed that her grandson is on life support, and she is now fighting for custody of Amir’s biological father to make decisions regarding his care.
“If it’s her decision, why would she take the baby off life support when he can possibly die? Your charges go from felonious assault to murder,” Boyd argued.
The police report also noted that Bennett has had four cases with the Department of Family Services over the past two years related to child abuse and neglect. Both Bennett and Chambers have been indicted by a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury and are currently awaiting their next court date at the Cuyahoga County Jail.
