3-year-old allegedly thrown in Durham pond by father dies

DURAM, NC -- The Durham Police Department says a 3-year-old girl who was allegedly thrown in a pond by her father along with her 5-year-old sister has died.

Alan Tysheen Eugene Lassiter, 29, was charged with 3 counts of attempted murder. Those charges will now be upgraded.

Police said Lassiter threw the children into the water at a pond on Shearwater Drive shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday.

A 7-year-old boy was able to get away and run for help, according to police.

Witnesses said Lassiter screamed for help after the boy got away and admitted to trying to drown his daughters in a 911 call.

An off-duty Durham County deputy waded into the water to pull the children out. He spotted the girls in the dark and saw a 5-year-old floating and crying. Her 3-year-old sister was fully submerged.