Detroit boy, 9, falls 9 stories to his death - Fox 2 News Headlines

Police say the death of a 9-year-old boy may not have been an accident after he fell to nine stories to his death.

Investigators tell FOX 2 that Jarod Barnett either jumped or fell from the ninth floor window of his family's apartment at the Young Manor in the 2500 block of West Grand Blvd. around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police say the boy had threatened to hurt himself in the past.

Witnesses say Barnett lay motionless on the ground as police loaded him into a cruiser and rushed him to Henry Ford Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police are trying to determine what led to the incident, but sources tell FOX 2 the boy had gotten into trouble for stealing something from a nearby store. "It sounds accurate," said Pastor Barack Holmes, Jr., a relative of the Barnett family. "His big brother had chastised him a little bit as a big brother should. And his big sister was going to deal with him when he got home. Unfortunately, it had to end up like this."

Sources say Jarod may have been scared of the consequences of his actions and afraid of being punished.

Members of the city's homicide unit are handling the investigation.