Father Accused Of Killing 9-Year-Old Son

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A Sacramento man is behind bars accused of killing his 9-year-old son on Tuesday night.

"Normally a quite neighborhood," neighbor James Martinez said. "It's very strange."

Police say a relative at the family's home on Atrisco Circle in Natomas called 9-1-1 just before midnight Tuesday saying the boy had died. Police and firefighters arrived at the home and found the boy dead from blunt force trauma to the head. Police were told the boy's father, 36-year-old Phillip Hernandez, was to blame.

"It's sad to know that normally you watch it on TV and now it happened right next door," neighbor Aretza Loza said.

Hernandez was arrested about 15 minutes later walking near Azevedo Drive and W. El Camino Avenue.

Phillip Raymond Hernandez is accused of killing his son, 9, with a hatchet. (credit: Sacramento P.D.)

According to Sacramento Police Department spokesperson Michele Gigante, Hernandez was in the backyard of his home when he grabbed a hatchet, broke through the glass door of the home and stood over his son. An adult family member heard the crash, came downstairs and tried to stop Hernandez, but was shoved aside. Hernandez then attacked his son.

"He seemed like a dad that would take him to school," said Loza. "He didn't seem scary to actually know that happened."

A second son, 12, was also in the home at the time. He was unharmed and is now in the custody of his family.

"My little brother was friends with the little kids that live there, so it's kind of sad to actually see my little brother. It was his little friend and now to see that his little friend is not here no more, it's sad," said Loza.

The hatchet believed to be used in the killing was found at the scene.

"It's sad to know that, especially, he was 9 years old and his own father killed him," said Loza.

Police say they don't know why Hernandez allegedly attacked his son.

The childrens' mother is out of the state, but is currently on her way home.