FATHER ACCUSED OF MURDERING TOT.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Daily News Staff Writer

The father of a 2-year-old boy who died Sunday was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder after an autopsy indicated the death was a homicide, not a bathtub drowning.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Ray Peavy said Michael Shires, 25, told homicide detectives he was irritated that his wife had not bought him cigarettes, and he punched his son because the boy was staring at him while he watched television.

``It sounds to me this poor little child was guilty of being a 2-year-old,`` Peavy said. ``It's sad and tragic.''

Shires, an ex-convict who served time for a narcotics offense, has been in custody on suspicion of a parole violation since Sunday, when he called sheriff's deputies to say that his son had drowned in the bathtub in his home in the 24200 block of Arch Street.

Investigators booked Shires on suspicion of murder after the autopsy indicated Kyle's death was a homicide, Peavy said. Shires is being held in the Twin Towers Jail without bail.

The autopsy revealed that Kyle was assaulted and did not die by drowning, said Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Scott Carrier.

``This child . . . died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries,'' Carrier said. ``He was struck with with an unknown-type object.``

Shires told investigators he was upset that afternoon because his wife went out without leaving him any cigarettes. While Shires was watching television, he noticed Kyle staring at him, Peavy said.

Peavy said Shires told investigators that he knocked his child down, punched him again and noticed about 10 minutes later that Kyle was turning pale.

Shires told investigators he tried to revive the toddler by running cold water on him and called 911, Peavy said.

When medical emergency workers arrived, the unconscious child was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3 p.m.

Shires is suspected of having a history of child abuse with another child who lived with the couple, Peavy said.