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Queens Father Charged With Murder, Allegedly Killed His 3-Year-Old Son Inside Elmhurst Homeless Shelter

The police have charged a Queens father with murder after he allegedly beat his 3-year-old son to death inside a homeless shelter in Elmhurst Sunday (Photos: Unsplash and Google Maps)

Nov. 17, 2022 By Michael Dorgan

The police have charged a Queens father with murder after he allegedly beat his 3-year-old son to death inside a homeless shelter in Elmhurst Sunday.

Shaquan Butler, 26, has been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly killing the toddler inside the Boulevard Family Residence — a family homeless shelter located at 79-00 Queens Blvd.

Butler is also facing manslaughter charges after his son – who shares his father’s full name — died of blunt force trauma to the torso having been found by police battered and bruised inside the facility Sunday, according to police and reports.

The toddler had a faint pulse when emergency services arrived on the scene at around 7:40 p.m. and he was then transported by EMS to NYC Health & Hospital/Elmhurst but could not be saved, police said.

Police are still trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding the child’s death inside the shelter, which previously operated as the Pan American Hotel.

The victim’s mother had told police that the child began to act strange and was choking on food when he ran into a pole and struck his head on the floor. She then called 911 for help, the NYPD said.

However, police say that her story is inconsistent with the nature of the child’s injuries.

The toddler was found by responding police unconscious and unresponsive with bruises all over his body that were in different stages of healing, according to the NYPD. The child also had a collapsed lung.

Police questioned both parents after the incident and then arrested the father, the NYPD announced late Wednesday.

The young victim had two siblings — a 2-year-old and an 11-month-old — and all three children were taken into child protection services in late September before being returned to their parents the following month, according to the New York Daily News.

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) said it is aware of the child’s passing and is investigating the matter with the NYPD.

“Our top priority is protecting the safety and wellbeing of all children in New York City,” an ACS spokesperson said in a statement.

The victim’s parents both have criminal records, according to reports, with the father having been arrested for gang assault, inciting a riot, criminal mischief, petty larceny, grand larceny and weapons possession.

The boy’s mother has been arrested for weapons possession and grand larceny. She is on probation for grand larceny, the New York Daily News reported.

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12 Comments

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A Mom

Dear little one I wished the world was much nicer to you & that you could of grown up as many other children who have birthday parties & celebrate Santa Claus & etc. You were taken away too soon & never got to enjoy your childhood. Your life was filled with pain & sorrow . You didn’t deserve to have monster for your parents. I know you up in heaven & with God who will love you & take better care.

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Robinette Obiden

poor kid. he never had a chance with those two monsters as parents. so is the murderer getting released soon thanks to no bail laws and insane DA?

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The Big Apple Circus

Tear this dump down and move these criminals to the Bronx, they’ll fit right in.

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Put these people in the neighborhoods that created them

The Bronx is more than likely their “zip code of origin “

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Carmella

So sad for the child.× What did he do to deserve this horrible abuse .He suffered so much for the short time on earth. What lousy parents they fail to provide love & nurturing.Hope this child is resting peacefully with angels in heaven.

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Earl

When are Black people going to stop committing these horrible crimes? Yet they never stop blaming the Jews for all their problems. Maybe they should copy their success instead of blaming their failures on them. The Sunnyside Post will never print a letter like this.

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Smh

Hope the father never sees daylight as a free man again. Sad thing is if the son survived, he probably would have gone down the same path of his father. RIP to the little boy.

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I’ll ask again

What is the zip code of origin of the killer? 29 prior arrests? The DiBlasio administration said the people using the facility (old pan American) would be from immediately surrounding zip codes. This place needs to be shuttered. Since 2014 this place has been nothing but a problem. Fights, vandalism, and constant disturbances. It makes the News papers all the time. Just do an internet search on this location.

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