4-month-old Bronx boy dies from cocaine in system, case ruled homicide

A 4-month-old Bronx boy died from having cocaine in his system, police said Thursday.

Little Ariel Gonzalez’s 34-year-old mother called 911 about 9:10 p.m. Aug. 10 to report the baby was unconscious inside the family’s home on Eagle Ave. near E. 156th St. in the South Bronx.

Medics rushed the boy to Lincoln Hospital but he couldn’t be saved.

On Wednesday the city Medical Examiner ruled the infant’s death a homicide after an autopsy revealed he had cocaine in his system. The official cause of death is acute cocaine intoxication, police said.

No arrests have been made as cops continue to investigate how the boy was exposed to the drug.

“We rely on parents to take care of our child, you know what I’m saying? And to be protected,” said neighbor Lou Aguilar, 68. “We know our neighbors, as far as you know, seeing them passing by, but we don’t know what happened behind closed doors. So that’s a sad situation.”

Aguilar had seen the news of the tragic death and was stunned to learn how close the parents of the boy, who have multiple children, live to him.

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS