A city man has been charged in the death of his 3-month-old son.

Elias Romero Sr., 24, of 309 Station St., was originally arraigned on a charge of first-degree child abuse on July 7. After his son, Giovanny Romero, succumbed to his injuries on July 9, a new charge of first-degree murder was filed, and Romero was arraigned and ordered held without bail on Monday.

According to a statement from Cranston Police, officers responded to Romero’s home shortly after noon on July 7. Cranston Fire Department rescue personnel at the scene had found the child was not breathing and transported him to Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

At that point, the police department’s Special Victims Unit, with assistance from the Criminal Investigations Unit, began an investigation. Doctors advised police the child had regained a pulse, but could not breath on his own. They also indicated the boy’s injuries “were consistent with abuse, more specifically abusive head trauma [previously referred to as shaken baby syndrome],” according to a statement from police.

The investigation is said to have determined Romero was home alone caring for the child at the time the injuries were inflicted. He was arrested and arraigned on the child abuse charge on July 7, with bail set at $250,000 surety. He was held at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

Giovanny died July 9, at which point the child abuse charge against Romero was dismissed and the murder charge was filed. He remains held at the ACI.

“This is a tragic incident that weighs heavily on the hearts of not only the child’s family, but also the entire Cranston Police Department. I commend the detectives who handled this case, which was difficult on so many fronts,” Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist said through the department’s statement. “They are parents of young children themselves and maintained their professionalism, composure and empathy throughout the course of the investigation. I also want to thank the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for their assistance.”