File Photo
FDNY personnel arrived at the Pan Am Hotel in Elmhurst and found the 3-year-old victim unconscious on the floor with visible bruises to the head, body and extremities.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz recently announced that Shaquan Butler has been indicted for murder, endangering the welfare of a child and other crimes in connection with the November death of his 3-year-old son and physical abuse to a second child in an Elmhurst shelter.
Butler, 26, of Elmhurst, was arraigned on an 11-count indictment charging him with murder in the second degree, two counts of manslaughter in the first degree, manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the second degree and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
According to the indictment, on Sunday, Nov. 13, at approximately 7:40 p.m., Butler was in an apartment at the Pan American Hotel on Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst when he allegedly struck his 3-year-old son in the multiple times causing lacerations to the child’s liver and internal bleeding. The child’s mother and his two young siblings were in the apartment at the time as well.
Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
“We will not forget this child,” DA Katz said. “The defendant will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
Responding to a 911 call, the City Fire Department arrived at the hotel and found the 3-year-old victim unconscious on the floor with visible bruises to the head, body and extremities. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The medical examiner determined that the child had significant internal bleeding and died from blunt force trauma to his torso. Medical examination of a second child, who is 2 years old, revealed physical injuries consistent with child abuse.
“As alleged, this parent failed his primary duty as a protector, killing one of his own children by callous force and allegedly injured another,” Katz said. “We will not forget this child. The defendant will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
If convicted, Butler faces up to 40 years to life in prison.
