The running back’s son had lived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with his mother.
Jan Kruger / FA / Getty
Update - Oct. 11, 12:00 p.m., EDT: This story has been updated to reflect contradictory reports about the identity of the child in the case.
Update - Oct. 11, 1:20 p.m., EDT: Adrian Peterson's father has confirmed the identity of the child.
Update - Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m., EDT: The child that was the victim of the alleged assault has died, police say.
Update - Oct. 11, 6:00 p.m., EDT: Peterson has commented briefly on the situation via Twitter.
After Adrian Peterson missed Vikings practice Thursday for what was described as a personal matter, TMZ reported that the NFL star's son was in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota hospital after being allegedly beaten by a 27-year-old man dating the child's mother. This afternoon, police confirmed to several media outlets that the child has died from his injuries.
Earlier this morning, the Minneapolis City Pages reported that the hospitalized child might not be Peterson's son. TMZ then updated its own story to say that the child in question is related to Peterson but is not Adrian Peterson Jr., who the running back has been often photographed with in public. Nelson Peterson — father of the Vikings running back — then confirmed to the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the child is Peterson's son but is not Adrian Peterson Jr.
Sioux Falls Argus Leader writer Stu Whitney reported yesterday afternoon that Peterson was in Sioux Falls. He was seen at a Vikings practice this morning; the team plays a home game this Sunday.
A suspect, 27-year-old Joseph Patterson, has been arrested in the case.
At around 6 p.m. Peterson made a brief statement on the situation via Twitter:
