BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Around 10 a.m. Tuesday, Kern County sheriff deputies responded to 711 Tangerine St. regarding a 2-year-old child who was not breathing, the KCSO reported.

When deputies arrived, medical aid personnel were performing CPR on the boy, the KCSO reported.

Gina Serna, the mother of Guillermo Alvarez, said that she was at work when she received a call that her 2-year-old had stopped breathing.

Alvarez was transported via ambulance to Kern Medical Center where he was treated and subsequently flown to Children's Hospital Of Central California in Madera, the KCSO reported.

According to Serna, when she arrived at KMC, she spoke with the chaplin who said Alvarez had a broken spleen and was not going to survive.

Alvarez was pronounced dead at Children's Hospital Of Central California a short time later, the KCSO reported.

Homicide detectives responded and have begun an investigation.

According to Serna, the children were left in the care of her now ex-boyfriend at the time of the suspicious death.

Four children at the residence ranging in age from 3 to 9 years old have been placed into protective custody.

Detectives are currently investigating this case and the nature of the death appears to be suspicious.