Little 3-year-old Tharell Edward is in critical condition after being shot in the head. (Paul Martinka)
He shot a 3-year-old boy in the head — and then ordered a friend not to call 911 as the critically wounded child lay bleeding in his arms, prosecutors charged today.
Alleged tot-shooter Akeem Bernard, 22, did not speak as he was charged in Brooklyn Criminal Court today with criminal weapons possession, assault, endangering the welfare of a child and evidence tampering.
Little Tharell Edward – who was still recovering from a vicious pitbull attack two months ago – was in a bedroom crib of his mother’s apartment when Bernard took a gun into the room, prosecutors said. The child’s mother, who is a friend of Bernard’s, wasn’t home at the time, sources said.
“At 11p.m., the defendant was observed displaying a black semi-automatic handgun” in the home, Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney David McMaster told Judge Ingrid Joseph, adding that a witness then saw Bernard put the gun in a shoebox under a bed near where the child slept.
Four hours later, the witness, identified as Alexis Wells, “heard a loud bang and observed Tharell Edward in the defendant’s arms, bleeding profusely from his head.”
Bernard told Wells not to call 911 until he had time to “stash the gun,”’ according to the criminal complaint.
Tharell was “bleeding profusely” when Bernard then left the apartment and “came back shortly thereafter,” the complaint alleges.
Cops recovered a .40-caliber shell casing inside the apartment, the documents note.
Prosecutors are trying to determine who eventually called 911.
Tharell remained in critical but stable condition at New York hospital as Bernard was arraigned today.
Bernard’s private lawyer, Nelson Schmukler, said his client “commonly baby-sits for this child” and “denied the charges.
“He loves this child. He has no desire whatsoever to hurt this child. He is more concerned for the child’s well-being than his own,” Schumkler said. “The complaint shows that it was a non-intentional assault.”
Bernard has a record of at least six arrests — including one for weapons possession.
Neighbors said Bernard was often in the East 21st Street apartment of Tharell’s mother, Nichelle Edward, 43. She left her little boy home Friday night in the care of a woman who neighbors said is her roommate. Nichelle Edward has hired a lawyer and refused to comment.
Her little boy has overcome much in his short, sad life.
Tharell was born prematurely to a woman who neighbors say spent most of her time ignoring him. His dad, they said, was never in the picture.
The mom’s female roommate invited Bernard to join her in the Ditmas Park apartment before the shooting occurred.
The woman told police she heard gunfire at about 3:30 a.m. yesterday. Bernard told cops he carried the boy to her.
He claimed the bullets were fired from outside — but cops said the only holes they found were in his story and not in the windows.
No weapon has been recovered.
Jacintha Fleming, a neighbor in the building, said she was desperately worried about the boy.
“I hope they take that child away,’’ she said.
“He’s not safe. She [Nichelle] needs to be a better mother. He’s supposed to be safe in his own home.
“He’s overcome a lot, but I think it’s time for her to get into trouble. I’m not sorry for her. I’m sorry for the baby.”
Fleming said the pit bull who attacked Tharell belonged to his mom’s boyfriend at the time.
“He healed rather good,” Devon Reyes, another Nichelle pal, said of the child, who had to wear a colostomy bag.
“He’s a vibrant kid.”
Sources said the Administration for Children’s Services was notified after the dog attack, but it is unclear if it took any action.
The ACS did not return repeated calls for comment.
City Councilman Mathieu Eugene visited the apartment building to reach out to the boy’s family. It’s only a few blocks away from a church where he helped collect 69 guns at a recent buy-back event.
“That was not enough,” he said. “We have to do more.”
Nichelle had herself been a victim of gunfire in 2006, when her hand was injured in a drive-by shooting in front of the building. A 34-year-old man was fatally shot in the chest in the same incident, police said.
They would not say whether she had been a target or a bystander.
A cousin of the child, who asked that her name not be revealed, wiped away tears as she spoke.
“Tharell is very active. He wins you over with his smile,” she said.
“He’s a strong kid. He’s been through a lot.”