The Knoxville Police Department identified they 7-year-old boy that drowned in a hotel pool.
Bystanders pulled unresponsive 7-year-old Darshawn Martez Witt from the deep end of a pool at the Quality Inn and Suites off North Cedar Bluff Road Sunday night. People performed CPR on the child before first responders took him to Park West hospital, but Witt did not survive.
KPD said the child was alone at the pool before he drowned and was in the custody of his grandmother. Witt's 5-year-old brother was placed in the custody of other family members.
This marks the third drowning at this indoor pool since 2015.
"He was at the very bottom, so how long did it take him to go?” asked Jessica Strickland, who was staying at the hotel with her husband when the drowning happened.
Her husband tried to save Witt but it was too late.
"I’ll wonder that for the rest of my life. Why was he out there by himself?" Strickland added.
Strickland and her husband were also at the hotel when the last drowning happened.
"No one can blame this hotel. It’s not their fault. Not at all because they’ve done their part, you know how responsible, you have to be responsible for your children," Strickland shared.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
PREVIOUS STORY: A child was taken to the hospital after a reported drowning at a West Knoxville hotel, according to the Knoxville Fire Department.
The call came in around 7:30 p.m. and Knoxville Fire Department responded.
The child was taken to Parkwest Medical Center.
The condition and identity of the child is unknown at this time.
We'll work to bring you updates on this story as we receive them.