3-year-old boy is 3rd death in Tenn. hotel pool in 4 years

The Knoxville Police Department said three-year-old Raymond Whitlock died after drowning in the pool at the Quality Inn and Suites on North Cedar Bluff Saturday evening.

Knoxville Police Department, Knoxville Fire Department and AMR ambulance service responded to the scene at 5:53 p.m.

According to the preliminary investigation, the 3-year-old victim was left unattended at the indoor swimming pool along with his 6-year-old brother, a 5-year-old cousin, and a 5-year-old friend. The children were in the care of a relative.

KPD said the child was found and pulled from the pool by other patrons. When law enforcement arrived on scene, CPR was in progress on the child.

The child was taken to Parkwest Hospital then transferred to Children's Hospital for treatment and was in critical condition as of Saturday night.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

A 4-year-old Georgia boy drowned at the hotel in March 2015 and a 7-year-old boy drowned there in July 2017.