Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Erie County Sheriff's Deputies arrest a man who they say fatally struck his girlfriend's son Tuesday.

Sheriff Tim Howard tells WBEN deputies were called to a home on Sulpher Springs Road on the Seneca Indian Reservation early Tuesday morning after the mother of three year old Gage Seneca reported the preschooler was not breathing. Little Gage was taken to Lake Shore Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Howard says there was no violent history either within the home or by the suspect, 30 year old Justin Crouse. But Howard says Crouse struck the little boy with his hand early Tuesday. "It occurred about 1am. Mr. Crouse got out of bed, found the child in the living room, in the process of bringing him back to his bedroom, struck him, leading to the child's death," explains Howard.

Crouse is charged with second degree murder and was arraigned in Town of Brant Court.