A 3-year-old boy died after he was discovered with bruises all over his body and suffering from a collapsed lung at a Queens homeless shelter — and his father was charged with murder in connection with the case Wednesday, police said.
Little Shaquan Butler was found unconscious inside the shelter at 79-00 Queens Boulevard at around 7:40 p.m. on Sunday, according to cops. He was rushed by EMS to NYC Health & Hospital/Elmhurst, where he was pronounced dead.
His 26-year-old dad, also named Shaquan Butler, was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder and manslaughter, police said.
The tot’s 21-year-old mother allegedly told cops that he had fallen and hit his head on the kitchen floor after choking on a chicken nugget.
But the medical examiner found that Shaquan sustained blunt force trauma to the torso, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Medics concluded that the bruises on the boy’s body were in various stages of healing and allegedly indicated abuse, reported ABC 7 New York. He also had a collapsed lung at the time of his death.
Shaquan Butler, 3, died after being found covered in bruises at a homeless shelter on Queens Boulevard. Dennis A. Clark for NY Post
The toddler’s mother claimed her son hit his head in a fall after choking on chicken at their home at the shelter, formerly the Pan Am hotel. Brigitte Stelzer for NY PostDetectives interviewed Shaquan’s mom and dad. His mom has not been charged.
Two other children were taken from the parents’ care by the Administration for Children’s Services.
The shelter where the boy lived with his family is located inside the former Pan Am hotel, and it is operated by the nonprofit Samaritan Daytop Village.
