Introduction to the Tragedy
A grieving grandmother and local clergy leaders rallied outside the 40th Precinct on June 16 to call for police accountability following the death of 2-year-old Montrell Williams of the Bronx, whose body was discovered in the East River on June 11. The boy’s father, Arius Williams, 20, is now charged with his murder and had allegedly abused Montrell’s 17-year-old mother prior to the child’s death.
Demands for Accountability
Rev. Kevin McCall of Kingdom Justice Church in Brooklyn led the press conference, accusing the NYPD of an alarming lack of urgency after the child’s father failed to return him to his mother after a planned visit on Mother’s Day weekend.
“A 2-year-old boy is not here today due to the neglect of the NYPD,” said McCall.
Official Response
An NYPD spokesperson said in a statement that the child’s murder is an “absolute tragedy, and the NYPD extends our deepest condolences to his family. Our detectives are always committed to conducting complete and thorough investigations, and the arrest of Arius Williams is the first step in the pursuit of justice for Montrell’s death.”
Williams has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bail, according to court records.
Family’s Grief and Demands
At the press conference, Montrell’s grandmother said through tears that her daughter is graduating high school this week while mourning the loss of her son.
“He’s supposed to be here to see her, and he’s not,” she said. “I just want to get justice for my grandson.”
As for the boy, his grandmother described him as “a loving boy, energetic, always smiling” and “playful, joyful.”
“Everybody loved him,” she said.
Criticisms of the NYPD and ACS
Rev. McCall, who has worked closely with Montrell’s mother and grandmother following the tragedy, said that both the NYPD and Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) knew about the boy’s father’s record of abuse. Given that history, agencies should have immediately checked on Williams after he had failed to bring the child home, he said.
“Some heads need to roll,” said McCall. “It doesn’t take four weeks to find a father and a child.”
The Disappearance and Murder
According to the reverend, the boy’s mother last saw him on Mother’s Day, May 11, when he left for a visit with his father, who shared joint custody. The father was supposed to drop off Montrell later that day but never showed up. Montrell’s mother repeatedly called Williams and his family to ask where her son was. She then called 911, who allegedly told her it was a custody issue, not a police emergency, according to McCall. “She hung up in disbelief.”
The boy went missing for nearly a month, as his family tried to take the issue to the NYPD and family court. The NYPD later determined that the boy had been murdered on May 10. However, they said the initial complaint was not filed with police until the 11th.
Lack of Trust in the NYPD’s Version
But at the press conference, McCall said he does not fully understand or trust the NYPD’s version of events and questioned why the situation wasn’t handled as a missing child case early on.
“Did any of y’all get an Amber Alert? No,” McCall said. “So, there’s something that happened. The police department dropped the ball.”
Community Reaction
Cheryl Singletary, pastor at the Alpha and Omega Church in the South Bronx, said the boy’s mother, who is young and “in distress,” could not attend the press conference as planned.
“This should’ve never happened,” Singletary said. She began shouting, near tears, that pleas for help from Bronxites like Montrell’s mother too often go unheeded. “The system has failed us.”
“They don’t care about us,” said a woman who arrived with the clergy members. “This would not have happened if it was a child below 96th Street, and I’m sick and tired of it.”
Future Actions
The family is now securing an attorney and looking into legal options against the NYPD and ACS, said McCall.
“ACS knows the history and still gave the father some type of custody,” he said. “[The mother] has been a victim since Montrell was two months old.”
Conclusion
The tragic death of Montrell Williams has sent shockwaves through the community, with many demanding accountability from the NYPD and ACS. The family and clergy leaders are determined to seek justice for the young boy and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. As the community mourns the loss of Montrell, they also call for greater awareness and action to prevent child abuse and neglect.
FAQs
Q: What happened to Montrell Williams?
A: Montrell Williams, a 2-year-old boy from the Bronx, was found dead in the East River on June 11. His father, Arius Williams, has been charged with his murder.
Q: Why are the family and clergy leaders demanding accountability from the NYPD?
A: The family and clergy leaders are demanding accountability from the NYPD because they believe the police department did not act with urgency to find Montrell after he went missing, despite knowing about his father’s history of abuse.
Q: What is the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) accused of?
A: ACS is accused of knowing about the boy’s father’s record of abuse and still giving him joint custody, which ultimately led to Montrell’s death.
Q: What are the family’s plans for seeking justice?
A: The family is securing an attorney and looking into legal options against the NYPD and ACS to seek justice for Montrell’s death.
