Boy, 3, Drowns in Staten Island Day Care Pool: Police

A 3-year-old boy drowned in a pool at a Staten Island day care center Thursday, police say.

The boy somehow got into the above-ground pool in the backyard of the Mothers Byrd Day Care Center on Maple Parkway center in Mariners Harbor around 5:30 p.m., according to police. The day care center appears to be run out of a home.

Police sources said the gate leading to the pool was locked, and the child accessed the pool by climbing on top of boxes.

Emergency responders rushed the child, identified as Edward Harris, of Staten Island, to Richmond University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Neighbors said they were heartbroken by what appeared to be a tragic accident.

"It's summertime and everything, and for a kid to drown, it's scary," said Eduardo Tapia.

John Blanchard said, "You gotta watch your kids, especially these days. Anything can happen." 

State records show the day care center was first licensed in November 2007, and is registered to run through November 2015. It can hold up to 12 children from 6 weeks old to 12 years old.

It was last inspected in December 2013, and there are currently no uncorrected violations, records show. The day care is registered to Sherrie M. Byrd. No one answered at the phone number listed for Byrd, and the home was blocked off by police Thursday night.

-- Brynn Gingras contributed to this report.

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