HAYWARD, Calif. -- A Hayward father has been arrested for murder after his fourth-month-old daughter was declared brain dead – a victim of shaken-baby syndrome, authorities disclosed Monday.

Alameda County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. JD Nelson said 26-year-old Jose Arevalo had been arrested on a charge of murder – child abuse resulting in death -- and was being held at the Alameda County jail.

The incident began early Thursday when family members brought little Bridgette Arevalo into the emergency room at Kaiser Hospital in Hayward.

Doctors by the Hayward hospital immediately transferred the child to the Kaiser hospital in Santa Clara and its pediatric ICU unit.

Physicians on duty there determined the child’s injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

Nelson said the child’s condition rapidly deteriorated and she was placed on life support on Friday. Eventually, Nelson said, doctors determined the child was brain dead but remained on life support so she could become an organ donor.

Authorities interviewed the father and family members. They determined the father was responsible and he was taken into custody, Nelson said.

Authorities said four other children living at the Arevalo home all were examined and determined not to be victims of abuse.

Arevalo was awaiting arraignment on the charge.