The death of a 2-year-old girl who drowned at her Brooklyn home Sunday night has been deemed a homicide by the New York City Medical Examiner's office.
Melody Pheng's father was performing CPR on her when police officer's arrived at their home on 47th Street in Sunset Park just before 8:30 p.m., according to police.
Emergency responders rushed the unresponsive girl to Maimonides Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said.
After the girl's parents were questioned by investigators at the 72nd precinct Monday morning, police arrested the mother, 24-year-old Lin Li, on murder, manslaughter and child endangerment charges.
It wasn't immediately clear if Li had an attorney.
Neighbor Peter Chow, who lives in the multi-family house where the girl and her family lived, said he was distraught when he learned of the toddler's death.
"I almost cried 'cause I saw her every morning while I go to the school, she was really cute," he said.
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Another neighbor named Jose said he couldn't understand it.
"I never believed a mother would do that," he said. "Every Saturday she goes wash the clothes at the laundry, she says 'nihao, nihao.' Happy."
