The stepson of a 3-year-old boy’s babysitter has been arrested for killing the tot during a visit to the victim’s family’s apartment, police said Tuesday.
Kevin James, 29, is facing charges of murder, assault and acting in a manner injurious to a child. He allegedly killed little Denim Brown with a fatal blow to the head inside the boy’s family’s apartment on New York Ave. near Snyder Ave. in Crown Heights Sunday night.
James, who lives in the apartment next-door to Denim’s family, was arrested Monday after he was questioned by police, cops said.
The child was rushed to Kings County Hospital after he was found unconscious in the tub.
A resident said he heard screaming Sunday night.
“I don’t know if it was arguing or crying. I was in bed so I didn’t get up to check. Then I saw the flashing lights from the ambulance through my window,” the resident, who did not want to be named, told the Daily News Monday. “It’s so sad.”
Doctors at the hospital found trauma to the child’s head and neck. An autopsy later determined those injuries led to the toddler’s death.
The boy’s mother was not home at the time and had asked a family friend who lived in the building to watch Denim. James, who is the friend’s stepson, stopped in to visit and attacked the child, according to police sources.
Cops first took James into custody on an unrelated outstanding warrant, police said.
James’ arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court was pending Tuesday.
The neighbor said he didn’t know little Denim’s family but saw them around, describing the victim as “sweet” and “well behaved.”
