A tragic and deeply unsettling case in Queens has taken a dramatic turn as officials now say that an infant found dead in a local apartment earlier this week was not killed by a dog, contrary to initial reports. The revelation comes after a detailed forensic examination conducted by the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which ruled out fatal injuries consistent with a dog attack and instead pointed to other potential causes of death.
The incident unfolded on Sunday afternoon, May 25, when NYPD officers and emergency medical services responded to a frantic 911 call from an apartment located on the second floor of a residential building in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. Upon arrival, they found a baby — identified as a 3-month-old boy — unresponsive and with visible injuries. Paramedics pronounced the child deceased at the scene.
In the early stages of the investigation, law enforcement sources stated that there were signs suggesting the family dog, a large mixed breed, might have been involved. The dog was initially seized by animal control for observation, and neighbors reported hearing screams and barking just moments before police arrived.
However, following the medical examiner’s autopsy results, authorities have now confirmed that the injuries sustained by the infant were not consistent with a dog mauling, and there were no bite marks or tearing typically associated with a fatal animal attack. Instead, the findings pointed to blunt force trauma as the likely cause of death, raising serious questions about what really happened inside the apartment that day.
The parents of the child — a 26-year-old mother and a 29-year-old father — were both present at the time of the incident, according to police. No arrests have been made as of Wednesday, but law enforcement sources say the case is now being treated as a suspicious death and a potential criminal investigation is underway. The couple has been cooperating with investigators, though authorities have not ruled out charges as they await the results of toxicology reports and further forensic analysis.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said:
“The death of a child is always a tragedy, but when it involves potential foul play, our commitment to justice is unwavering. Our detectives are working tirelessly to determine exactly what happened to this young infant.”
The case has sent shockwaves through the quiet Queens neighborhood, where residents expressed both sorrow and confusion. “We were all devastated when we heard it might have been the dog,” said one neighbor. “But now, with this news, it’s even more disturbing. That poor baby didn’t deserve this.”
Child Protective Services has reportedly been involved since the initial report, and any other children in the household — if present — have been removed as a precaution while the investigation proceeds. The family dog, previously thought to be responsible, remains in city custody but is no longer considered a threat in relation to the infant’s death.
Community leaders and advocates are urging anyone with knowledge of the family’s circumstances to come forward. Meanwhile, the tragic death has renewed calls for awareness around infant safety, home environments, and the critical importance of early intervention in households where signs of distress or neglect may exist.
Public outrage and concern are mounting, as residents await answers and justice for a life so brief and brutally ended. A makeshift memorial of stuffed animals, candles, and flowers has begun to form outside the building where the incident occurred, a silent tribute to a child whose life ended under still-mysterious and heartbreaking circumstances.
The NYPD’s Special Victims Unit and Homicide Division remain actively involved in the investigation. Authorities have promised transparency as more facts are uncovered.
For now, the city grieves the loss of an innocent life, holding its breath as detectives work to reveal the truth behind the tragedy that has left a Queens community shaken to its core.
