Questions remain after death of 4-year-old boy in NYC

EAST FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (PIX11) – An investigation into the death of a 4-year-old boy continued on Wednesday after he was rushed to the hospital from a family shelter in critical condition on Tuesday morning. He passed away after doctors couldn’t revive him, according to the NYPD.

First responders were called to the shelter at 4612 Glenwood Road in East Flatbush around 8 a.m. on Tuesday, police said. The boy suffered a medical episode, according to authorities.

The child became unresponsive and a family member ran out of the shelter to flag down a Hatzolah unit, which happened to be in the area, sources told PIX11 News. The boy may have ingested an unknown substance, which police suspected could have been fentanyl, according to sources.

The sources, who are close to the ongoing investigation, said that the boy also had a viral infection, which may have also been the cause of death, or may have at least contributed to it. 

The child, whose name has not been released, was taken to Maimonides Medical Center in critical condition, but he could not be saved. The medical examiner will determine the boy’s cause of death, after toxicology test results become available, in about two weeks, according to the NYPD.

Police also confirmed that they questioned the child’s parents. No charges have been filed in the case as of Wednesday evening.

Win NYC, the organization which runs the shelter, told PIX11 News in a statement, “Win is devastated by the tragic death of this innocent child who came to reside with us in one of our shelters. We are working closely with the NYPD to support their ongoing investigation. We remain committed as ever to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all families that call a Win shelter home.”