New York City

1-Month-Old Boy With Head Trauma Dies After 911 Call to NYC Apartment; Smirking Father, 24, Arrested: Cops

Police on Tuesday said they'd arrested Christian Rodriguez, 24, in connection with the boy's death

What to Know

  • A one-month-old baby boy died after being taken from his Bronx apartment Monday night with head trauma, police say
  • The child, Aiden Rodriguez, was taken to a hospital in serious condition shortly before midnight; he was pronounced dead when he got there
  • The baby's 24-year-old father has been arrested in connection with the boy's death; he smirked as he was led out of a police precinct

UPDATE: Smirking Father Arrested in NYC Baby's Death

The father of a 1-month-old Bronx boy who died after he was found with head trauma in his apartment Monday night has been arrested, police say.

Police responding to a 911 call from a hospital about possible child abuse learned emergency crews had gone to the apartment on East 137th Street shortly before midnight and found the baby, Aiden Rodriguez, in serious condition, officials say.

Aiden was taken to Lincoln Hospital, but his injuries were so severe he was transported to the trauma unit at Columbian Presbyterian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.  

Police on Tuesday said they'd arrested the boy's 24-year-old father, Christian Rodriguez, 24, in connection with his death.

Rodriguez smirked as he was led out of a police precinct Tuesday night, but declined to say anything to reporters. 

He has been charged with assault causing injury through risk of death, reckless assault of a child involving a brain injury, assault causing injury to a person less than 11 years old and assault causing injury to a person less than 7 years old, according to police. 

His attorney information wasn't immediately available Tuesday. 

Another child who was in the home was taken into the custody of the Administration for Children's Services. Details on that child weren't clear. 

"Our top priority is protecting the safety and well-being of all children in New York City," ACS said in a statement. "We are investigating this case and we have taken action to secure the safety of the other child in this home."

The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine how Aiden died. The investigation is ongoing. 

The child was so young that residents of the public housing where the infant was found did not even know he existed, although they knew his parents.

"I mean I've seen them coming in an out, but I didn't even know they had a baby," neighbor Kenneth Moore said.

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