INDIANAPOLIS -- A local man was arrested Thursday after an 8-year-old boy was struck in the head by a thrown sledgehammer during a melee Wednesday on the city's Eastside.

Alfred Amos, 38, of Indianapolis faces two preliminary felony charges of aggravated battery and battery. The boy, who has not been identified, remained in critical condition Thursday evening, as detectives continued to piece together what happened.

The boy was taken to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health after the fight outside an apartment building.

He suffered a skull fracture when struck by the 2-pound sledgehammer during a fight, according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department report. The altercation erupted about 8:30 p.m. at a 168-unit apartment complex operated by the Indianapolis Housing Agency.

Indianapolis Housing Police records show 51 crimes in the complex through Aug. 6 this year, a 20 percent decrease for the same time period last year, when there were 64.

The most recent fight was the culmination of a dispute between two families, according to a woman who saw the incident. About 20 to 25 people confronted one another outside the apartment where the boy lived, the woman said.

The woman said that she did not think the suspect who threw the hammer was aiming for the child. She said a family member of the injured boy brought out the hammer.

When police arrived, the boy was bleeding from his head, the IMPD report said, and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

A 12-year-old girl was also taken to Riley with minor injuries, police said.

An 8-year-old boy remained in critical condition on Aug. 15 after being struck in the head with a sledgehammer during a melee in Indianapolis. (Photo: The Indianapolis Star)