Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Dayvon Morrison was indicted for murder and child endangerment for causing fatal injuries to his 2-year-old son, Maliek, inside their residence in Long Island City.

District Attorney Katz said: “A parent’s most sacred responsibility is ensuring the safety of their children. As alleged, this defendant chose to abandon that solemn duty when he inflicted life-threatening injuries on his 2-year-old son, Maliek, and then let him suffer. It was only after other people, who observed the toddler’s injuries, intervened that the child received medical treatment. Maliek tragically passed away two days after being admitted to the hospital and the defendant is now indicted on charges of murder and other crimes. Our thoughts are with the young victim’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

Morrison, 30, of Long Island City, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with two counts of murder in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court May 1. If convicted, Morrison faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges, on January 30 and 31, Morrison was the sole caretaker of his 2-year-old son and his daughter during the time the injuries to the young boy were inflicted.

On February 2, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Morrison brought his son to Manhattan where he went to drop off his other child. The boy was in the undercarriage of a stroller, a space typically used for storage, and remained there for approximately two hours before Morrison removed him to place him in the stroller seat. Witnesses then noticed the victim’s condition and called the police.

The boy was taken to a local hospital where he was placed on a ventilator. The child suffered a blown right pupil, fractured pelvis, laceration to the liver, damage to the brain stem, multiple brain bleeds and swelling to the brain, among other injuries. He died two days later.

Assistant District Attorneys Nicole Rella and Caitlyn Muldoon of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Jennie Evangelista under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, and Karen Ross and Jonthan Selkowe, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.