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Prosecutors say death of Tacoma boy was premeditated murder

TACOMA, Wash. — Pierce County prosecutors said Thursday the death of 3-year-old Tacoma boy Terric Davis was not an accident, it was premeditated murder.

In a probable cause affidavit charging Derrick Myers with first-degree murder, prosecutors allege he deliberately set out to kill Terric -- savagely beating him causing massive internal injuries and brain damage.

“So yes, the initial allegation is that it is a premeditated intentional murder,” said Deputy Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Phil Sorenson.

Myers, 28, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Pierce County Superior Court on Thursday. He was ordered held on $2 million bail.

Prosecutors said they don’t know why Myers brutally punched the boy while babysitting him and his 2-year-old sister on Tuesday night.

The children’s mother was working her second job and left Myers to watch the two.

According to probable cause documents, when she returned home, she found Terric on the bathroom floor complaining that his stomach hurt. Terric was lethargic and had already vomited.

Terric was taken to the emergency room at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma where he died 20 minutes later.

Court documents stated Myers repeatedly denied striking the boy while being questioned by Tacoma police detectives.

Myers has no criminal record except for a 2007 conviction for desertion while serving in the United States Navy.