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Four-year-old boy dies after allegedly being exposed to fentanyl in Flatbush shelter

fentanyl death in brooklyn
A 4-year-old boy died in Brooklyn on Tuesday after he was allegedly exposed to fentanyl in a Flatbush shelter.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

A 4-year-old boy has died after being exposed to fentanyl at a Flatbush women’s shelter on Tuesday, police said. 

According to police sources, officers from the 63rd Precinct responded to a 911 call of a child having a medical emergency at the 4612 Glenwood Road shelter at about 8:09 a.m. on March 4. They arrived and found the youngster who had suffered symptoms from an apparent overdose.

Paramedics administered Narcan to the boy before rushing him to Maimonides Medical Center, where he later died. Police have not yet released his identity.

police on the scene of flatbush shelter overdose
Police questioned both of the child’s parents. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Sources familiar with the incident report that while the location is a Women in Need shelter, husbands are permitted to visit in the daytime hours. The boy’s mother and father were allegedly found to be ingesting fentanyl at the time, exposing the child to the drug.

Both parents have been taken into custody for questioning; charges against them are pending. 

Numerous police and medical crews, including hazmat teams, were still combing the crime scene late Tuesday night.  

police on scene of fentanyl overdose
Police remained on the on Tuesday night. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

A WIN spokesperson said the organization was “devastated” by the incident. 

“WIN is devastated that a child in one of our shelters has been hospitalized,” they said. “We are working closely with the NYPD to support their ongoing investigation. We remain committed as ever to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all families that call a Win shelter home.”

This story first appeared on Brooklyn Paper’s sister site amNewYork