Boy, 5, Who Drank Bourbon ‘Like a Man’ Dies in Texas

A 5-year-old boy who drank 10 ounces of bourbon after an adult allegedly prompted him to drink it “like a man” died this morning after his removal from life support systems, authorities said.

Thomas Griffin died at Cook-Ft. Worth Children’s Medical Center about 8:45 a.m. The respirator supporting the youngster’s breathing was disconnected Tuesday night, but the child had continued to breathe on his own.

Police said the boy was given the alcohol at a party Friday night and “told to drink it like a man.”

Anthony Jimerson, 21, was being held in Tarrant County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail after being charged with injury to a child.

The boy was taken to the hospital Saturday afternoon after he went into convulsions. At one point, the boy’s blood-alcohol level was about .55%. Doctors said he would probably have suffered irreversible brain damage.

At the time the boy drank the liquor, Jimerson was visiting the apartment of Thomas’ mother, Patricia Griffin, 31.