Update, 6:30: Peterson’s son was declared dead this afternoon from injuries due to suspected abuse at the hands of his mother’s live-in boyfriend.
Peterson told the media, “I really appreciate all the support that I’ve been receiving from fans, the Vikings organization. This is a private matter and I would ask you all to please just respect my privacy and not ask at all about the situation at hand.”
The charges against James Patterson of felony assault and battery on an infant are likely to be raised to manslaughter. Peterson says he will still play against the Panthers on Sunday. “Football is something I’ll always fall back on to get me through tough times,” he told press.
The two year old son of star Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is reportedly in critical condition in Sioux Falls, South Dakota after being beaten by his mother’s boyfriend.
Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, is charged with felony assault and battery on an infant, reports The Argus Leader.
Police were called to the home where the child’s mother and Patterson live on Wednesday afternoon, where the child was found unconscious. Medical personnel determined the injuries were consistent with abuse and included severe head trauma, reports TMZ.
Peterson has been in Sioux Falls since finding out about the attack on his son. While he is usually photographed with his two-year-old son Adrian Peterson, Jr., this son has been kept a secret until now, reports City Pages. The mother and Peterson had a brief fling and she wasn’t certain of the paternity of the boy until taking a test recently.
The infant is not expected to survive. It has not been announced yet whether Peterson will play in Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.