BROOKLYN, NY – Latrell Lewis, 23, was arraigned today on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son, Nasir Carter Paris. District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that Lewis was ordered held without bail and is due back in court on November 17. If convicted of the top charge, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Nasir was left in Lewis’s care on the morning of August 27 when his mother went to work. According to the indictment, Lewis later contacted the mother claiming that Nasir was experiencing stomach pain. An ambulance was called at approximately 11:55 a.m., and the child was taken to Brookdale Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:54 p.m.
An autopsy by the Office of the New York City Medical Examiner revealed that Nasir died from blunt force injuries to the head and torso, which included a depressed skull fracture, internal hemorrhaging, and lacerations to multiple internal organs.
In addition to the current charges, Lewis is also indicted in connection with a prior incident from April 22, where Nasir sustained a spiral fracture of his femur while under Lewis’s care. Lewis allegedly failed to seek medical attention for the child at that time.
The family of Lewis maintains his innocence.
“On August 27th, 2023. Our Son and Brother Latrell Lewis was wrongfully accused of a crime that we cannot fathom he committed. The media and law enforcement have chosen to convict him before a thorough investigation has been conducted without imperative facts,” the said in an August statement. “Latrell was raised by his parents, stepmother, brother and his 5 older sisters. He is a proud uncle of 11 nieces and two nephews whom he cared for and even has been the independent caregiver to. He has never had an incident of violence and we know he would never hurt anyone much less a child. This situation has been a cruel twist of fate. We, the family believe that the true nature of this case will unfold and clear Latrell’s name of all charges. We will not accept another narrative of a wrongfully accused Black Man. We refuse to let our son and brother go down for this brutal allegation. We have never witnessed him hurt this child or any other. Latrell as well as our family are tremendously saddened by this loss. We know how much he loved baby Nasir and we pray for comfort for all parties involved while trusting that justice will prevail.”