Two infants have died from multiple stab wounds and their 24-year-old mother has been taken in custody following a domestic incident at a family shelter in the Mt. Hope section of The Bronx.

 

Members of the NYPD from Patrol Borough Bronx and the 46th Precinct, including Deputy Chief Louis De Ceglie, executive officer of Patrol Borough Bronx, Capital James Whitlock of the Detective Bureau, Captain Odelle Despot of the 46th Precinct and Inspector Carlos Ganz from Patrol Borough Bronx, gave a press conference on the incident in Mt. Hope on Saturday evening, Nov. 26.

 

De Ceglie said that earlier that evening, at around 7.20 p.m., patrol officers from the 46th Precinct were dispatched to respond to reports of a woman who had been acting erratically but not violently, “with no weapons inside of 246 Echo Place,” in Mt. Hope.

 

“Additional information said the female was trying to burn items inside the kitchen area,” De Ceglie said. “Officers arrived and found a 24-year-old female, naked, inside the apartment. on the third floor, acting irrational.”

 

De Ceglie continued, “The officers took the female into custody without incident, and awaited the response of the ambulance. Once the ambulance arrived, the female was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital for [psychological] evaluation at approximately 7.50 p.m. Prior to leaving for the hospital, a family friend informed the officers that the aided’s children were with their father.”

 

He added, “Shortly after the female was transported, around 7.55 p.m., a second 911 call was received, reporting two unresponsive babies, not breathing, at the same location. Patrol officers returned to the apartment where they found an 11-month-old baby boy and a 3-year-old male, unresponsive with stab wounds, multiple stab wounds about the body. Officers and another family member tried to resuscitate the children until an ambulance arrived.”

 

De Ceglie said the two children were removed to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital [NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center] for treatment. “Despite the officers’ best efforts, both children succumbed to their injuries,” he said. “At this time, we have a person of interest in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.”

 

Responding to a few questions from the media, De Ceglie confirmed that the person in custody was the 24-year-old mother of the two children, and added that the incident was still under investigation. He did not confirm if any charges had been made. He said the father of the children was not arrested, that the first phone call came around in at around 7.21 p.m. and the second shortly before 8 p.m.

 

When asked how many stab wounds there had been, De Ceglie said, “Multiple stab wounds to the neck and torso of both children.”

Asked if there had been a history of domestic violence in the family, De Ceglie said, “There was one incident in the past but it was a couple of years ago.”

 

Asked how police officers process such violent incidents, De Ceglie said, “I don’t think that’s something you can ever get used to. We all process in our own ways. The police officers who responded.. I think they did a great job, and it’s something that they’re going to have to live with and think about probably for the rest of their lives, but you know, we have very experienced police officers. I think they are the best and I think they are able to handle and cope with any situation.”

 

A police crime scene unit was seen outside the location on Sunday morning as police continued to carry out their investigation into the incident. A candle memorial was also seen outside the building along with some messages which read, “Rest Easy Baby Boys, Toya,” and “Gone [too] soon. Rest Peacefully, Nikki.”

Norwood News spoke to a man who was sweeping litter from in front of a building across the street from the shelter on Sunday, Nov. 27, when police were still investigating the incident. Asked when the shelter opened, the porter said, “The end of last year this opened, in November or December, something like that. I don’t think it’s been a year yet.”

 

Asked if there had ever been any type of violent incident at the location before, he said, “No, never… I don’t know.” We asked if he knew the impacted family. He replied, “No. I know the lady was young, like 24-years-old. When is it that bad that you kill two kids? I don’t understand that. It never gets that bad. It never gets that bad.”

 

Asked if he was a parent, he said, “I’ve got one daughter. It’s outrageous, not even heard of… I mean, not in my family, not in my book. God will never give you anything you can’t handle.”

Police later said that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

 

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson later tweeted on Sunday morning of the incident, “Heartbreaking. These precious babies. God have mercy on their Souls. Just unbelievably sad. Two young NYC boys fatally stabbed in Bronx, Mother in custody.”

 

As reported, on Tuesday, Oct. 18, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a package of legislation that, among other measures, aims to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence by ensuring guns are seized from abusive partners and protecting the confidentiality of survivors.

 

Meanwhile, hundreds showed up for Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark’s 5th Annual Bronx Walk/Run/Roll to Prevent Domestic Violence on Saturday, Oct. 15, to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

On Nov. 22, as reported, the City Council passed two new bills to support survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, ushering in the City’s annual, “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign,” which kicked off on Nov. 25 (International Day to End Violence Against Women) and ends on Dec. 10 (Human Rights Day).

 

New York State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 and is available in most languages. Call (800) 942-6906, text (844) 997-2121 or chat at @opdv.ny.gov. Individuals also can visit www.ovs.ny.gov/connect to find a victim assistance program in their community.

 

The Office of Victim Services funds and supports more than 200 programs that provide direct services for victims and survivors of crime and their families, including therapy, support groups, case management, civil legal assistance, accompaniment to court, and transportation, among other assistance.

 

Local services for those affected by domestic or gender-based violence are also available in The Bronx. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or gender-based violence, call 311 and ask to be connected to a NYC Family Justice Center or walk-in Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the NYC 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-621-4673, or visit the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence for more information.

 

If you are in immediate danger, if you can, dial 911.

A person arrested is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law of a crime.

 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/or or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.