Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Shaquan Butler was convicted of depraved indifference murder, assault and other charges for the death of his 3-year-old son in an Elmhurst shelter in November 2022 and for separate injuries inflicted on the boy’s younger brother.

District Attorney Katz said: “At 3 years old, Shaquan Butler Jr. had 23 fractures to his ribs, three lacerations to his liver, bruises from head to toe along with other injuries and an empty stomach. His father is now facing 32 years to life for his murder and the assault of the boy’s brother. I want to thank the ADAs and all the agencies involved in this prosecution.”

Butler, 29, of Elmhurst, was convicted by a jury last night of murder in the second degree, assault in the second degree and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant, who presided at trial, indicated that she would sentence the defendant on September 3. Butler faces up to 32 years to life in prison.

Trial openings began on July 21 and summations took place yesterday. The jury deliberated for about three hours before reaching a verdict.

According to the charges and trial testimony, on November 13, 2022, Butler resided in a family shelter at the Pan-American Hotel in Elmhurst with his 3-year-old son, Shaquan Bulter Jr., two additional children and the children’s mother. At approximately 7:40 p.m. that day, the children’s mother called 911 to report that Shaquan Jr. wasn’t breathing.

EMTs found the 3-year-old naked on the floor, covered in cold water and unresponsive with visible bruises covering his body including three large bruises on his forehead. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died.

Butler claimed his son choked while eating and he had attempted to save him.

The medical examiner determined the boy died from blunt force injuries to his torso. He had three lacerations to the liver and substantial internal bleeding. The child had 23 fractures to his ribs including some that appeared to have been sustained anywhere from a few days to a week prior to his death. There was no evidence that his airway had been obstructed and his stomach was empty.

Medical examination of the boy’s brother — then 2 years old — revealed malnutrition and physical injuries consistent with child abuse.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Koo under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, and Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.