A 4-year-old boy is fighting for his life in a Brooklyn hospital after being exposed to fentanyl at a family shelter. The shocking incident raises new concerns about the deadly drug crisis infiltrating vulnerable communities across America.
At a Glance
- A 4-year-old boy is in critical condition from a suspected fentanyl overdose at a Brooklyn shelter
- The incident occurred at the Women In Need (WIN) shelter in East Flatbush
- Emergency responders administered Narcan before rushing the child to Maimonides Medical Center
- The boy’s parents have been taken into custody, but no charges have been filed yet
- Drug paraphernalia was found at the scene, suggesting parental drug use led to the child’s exposure
Another Young Victim of the Fentanyl Crisis
A heartbreaking scene unfolded in Brooklyn as emergency responders rushed to save a 4-year-old boy who had been exposed to fentanyl at a family shelter. The child was found unresponsive at the Women In Need (WIN) shelter in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, where he lived with his parents. First responders quickly administered Narcan, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, before transporting the child to Maimonides Medical Center.
Authorities discovered drug paraphernalia at the shelter, suggesting the boy’s parents were using the deadly synthetic opioid in their living quarters. Both parents have been taken into custody as the investigation continues, though no formal charges have yet been filed.
Eyewitness Accounts Paint Grim Picture
“He wasn’t moving when they brought him out. It looked like he was going to die,” said a man staying at the family shelter. The witness’s chilling description underscores the severity of the situation, as the young boy remains in critical condition. Police and medical teams, including a hazmat unit, remained on the scene for hours collecting evidence and ensuring the area was safe for other residents.
The WIN shelter, which provides housing for vulnerable families in New York City, released a statement expressing their shock over the incident. “WIN is devastated that a child in one of our shelters has been hospitalized. 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,” a spokesperson said.
Part of a Disturbing Pattern
As fentanyl continues to pour across America’s southern border, children are increasingly becoming collateral damage in the deadly crisis. The latest tragedy follows a recent high-profile case where a Bronx day care operator was sentenced to 45 years in prison after a child died from fentanyl exposure at her facility.
Law enforcement sources indicated that the parents in the Brooklyn case were allegedly using fentanyl in their shelter unit, inadvertently exposing their young son to the potent synthetic opioid. Even minimal exposure to fentanyl can be fatal, especially for children. The drug paraphernalia found at the scene will undergo testing as part of an investigation to determine exactly how the child came into contact with the substance.
