Dad beat 4-year-old to death with guitar before being shot by police, Arizona cops say

A 4-year-old Arizona boy left with skull fractures after his father beat him with a guitar Thursday has died, Clarkdale police report.

The child died Friday at Flagstaff Medical Center, KSAZ reported.

His father, Joshua David Hernandez Lord, 33, died Thursday after police responding to reports of the attack shot him to death at his Clarkdale home, officers reported.

Initial 911 reports about the 3 p.m. beating didn’t fully convey the seriousness of the child’s injuries or danger posed by Lord, KTVK reported.

An officer found Lord still carrying the guitar and fired a Taser at him with no effect, police reported. Lord grabbed a knife and threatened the officer, who shot him.

Emergency medical personnel pronounced Lord dead at the scene, police said.

Lord also had struck his 51-year-old mother with the guitar, fracturing her skull as well, police reported. The release did not provide information on her condition.