Police are investigating after a 6-month-old baby died and a 1-year-old child was taken to the hospital on Tuesday.

Sources tell NBC 6 reporter Steve Litz that the baby likely died from abuse.

Police received a call from a neighbor's house in Liberty City Tuesday afternoon saying a baby boy was having difficulty breathing. By the time the baby arrived at Jackson Memorial Hospital, he was pronounced dead.

A 1-year-old in the home was sick and was also taken to the hospital. The child remained hospitalized on Wednesday night.

Family friend Jason Williams said he felt "pretty bad" about the child's death.

Valerie Malloy, a concerned neighbor, said that somebody must know what happened.

The mother of four reportedly left her children with her boyfriend. Homicide detectives said they will determine if neglect played a factor in the baby's death.

"We're not going to rule that out, that will be the beginning of this investigation, but we have many people to interview, both here and at the Miami-Dade police headquarters," Detective Roy Rutland said.

The boyfriend has denied any wrongdoing.

Neighbors said the family moved in a few months ago.

Latarsha Hamilton, who lives nearby, said the mother had asked her Monday for money for her bills.

"She was just having a hard time, like nobody was helping her," she said. "She has a disabled child. Nothing like this though, we didn't think nothing like this."

The three surviving children are in Department of Children and Families' custody. A shelter hearing will be held Thursday to determine where to place the children.

so very sad.

Sad yes and it happens every day.

If you suspect a child is being abused please speak up.

are you still laughing at your Lions young lady ?

WHAT!!!!!!

I think the answer is catching these families way before there are so many problems. The neglect and abuse is almost predictable when you see that many factors. Why this mother wasn't given more resources with the first child floors me. Very sad. With all the money I see being thrown around after the fact I only wonder what people are thinking. Spent a little more in developeing healthy young people to start with we wouldn't have so much of this crazyness.

I saw a report from I think Florida yesterday about a mother who slapped around her four year old, called her a slut and attempted to push her into oncoming traffic.

It's funny that so many people object to things like parenting classes in public school fearing undo influence on their children by people who do not have the same values as they do.

Places like child services and community mental health groups are overwhelmed and under-budgeted.

It cannot be said ofter enough. If you think a child is in danger do something!!

A baby has died from the father's abuse, he broke the baby's arm two months ago, then he shook the baby because of its crying, so they took it to the hospital, the hospital alerted authorities of suspected abuse. Th baby died from injuries of being shook. The father of the baby admitted he abused the infant. But! where was the mother of this baby during this abuse didn't she suspect anything? How can you be so naive to not know that your child is crying in pain from a broken arm?