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Boy, 4, Thrown to His Death From Brooklyn Building, Police Say Boy, 4, Thrown to His Death From Brooklyn Building by His Brother, Police Say
(about 2 hours later)
A 4-year-old boy was thrown to his death from his seven-story apartment building in Brooklyn by his 20-year-old brother early on Saturday, the police said. A 4-year-old boy was thrown to his death from the roof of his seven-story apartment building in Brooklyn by his 20-year-old brother on Saturday, the police said.
Officers responded to a 911 call at 3:30 a.m. about an unconscious child on Nostrand Avenue in the East Midwood neighborhood and found the boy, Shimron Smith, unresponsive in a rear courtyard. The brother, identified by the police as Shawn J. Smith, was charged with second-degree murder. The police said he had no criminal record and there was no history of involvement by the Administration of Children’s Services at the home of the boy, Shimron Smith.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The brother was taken into custody and was expected to be charged in connection with the boy’s death, the police said. Around 3:30 a.m., Mr. Smith approached two uniformed officers responding to a 911 call in the 70th Precinct, a few blocks from Shimron’s apartment in the East Midwood neighborhood, which is in the 63rd Precinct.
Officers blocked access to the courtyard on Saturday afternoon. One section of the fire escape leading to the roof was blocked by police tape and guarded by two officers. “I need to talk to you,” he said, according to the police. The officers finished with their call and then continued their conversation with Mr. Smith, who told them: “My brother may be hurt. He might be dead.”
The police got his address and called officers from the 63rd Precinct.
“I’ll tell you more if you take me to the scene,” Mr. Smith said, according to the police.
The boy was found in a rear courtyard and was pronounced dead at the scene.
No motive was offered for what happened. The police said there was video footage of Mr. Smith carrying his brother to the roof.
Anthony Beckford, head of the Copwatch Patrol Unit in Brooklyn, which monitors the behavior of the police, organized a memorial of dolls, cloth flowers and candles with his sister Donna Heyward.
“I can’t fathom someone taking my child and throwing them off the roof,” Ms. Heyward said. “It tears me apart.”
Neighbors described Shimron as a sweet boy they often saw running and laughing on his way to or from school.Neighbors described Shimron as a sweet boy they often saw running and laughing on his way to or from school.
“He was always smiling, always laughing and running, like the average 4-year-old,” said Nicole Pierre, 30, an occupational therapist who has lived in the building for 22 years. “That’s why this is so sad.”“He was always smiling, always laughing and running, like the average 4-year-old,” said Nicole Pierre, 30, an occupational therapist who has lived in the building for 22 years. “That’s why this is so sad.”
Ms. Pierre said she heard the news when she was trying to return home early on Saturday and could not get into her building.Ms. Pierre said she heard the news when she was trying to return home early on Saturday and could not get into her building.
“It shocked me to my core,” she said.“It shocked me to my core,” she said.
The older brother was described by numerous neighbors as mentally unstable. Multiple neighbors said they never saw Shimron with the brother. The older brother was described by numerous neighbors as mentally unstable.
Neighbors talked about Shimron and his brother in disbelief as they heard the news. Around 12:30 p.m., a neighbor from across the street came with a bouquet of flowers. A family friend, Andrea Fergus, said the family was in a lot of pain.
He placed the flowers in front of the building, paid silent respect and then wiped tears from his face before walking off. “The family needs help and a lot of prayer,” Ms. Fergus said. “One minute your life is one thing and the next it’s completely changed.”
“May God Rest Your Soul Shimron Smith,” read a card attached to the flowers. Speaking of Mr. Smith and Shimron’s mother, she added: “She has one in the precinct and she has one that’s dead. That’s painful.”