A Lancaster City man is being kept behind bars without bail after police say he brutally beat a 2-year-old girl to death. Lester L. Johnson, 30, of Lancaster, was arrested and charged with criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Around 3 a.m. on Saturday morning officers were called to a home along the 500 block of East Ross Street for a report of an injured child who fell. Emergency personnel took 2-year-old Ranasia Knight to Lancaster General Hospital where she later died.
An autopsy revealed that Ranasia died from multiple traumatic injuries. A forensic pathologist ruled her death a homicide.
Both the child’s mother and Johnson, the mother’s boyfriend, were interviewed by police.
Johnson was arrested on Monday night.
Police say Johnson punched and kicked Ranasia in the face and abdomen numerous times which lead to multiple internal injuries and ultimately her death.
He was taken to Lancaster County Prison.