Brooklyn man faces life sentence for alleged brutal murder of 2-year old

September 26, 2023 Rob Abruzzese

The Bergen Beach residence on East 68th Street, where the tragic events leading to the untimely death of two-year-old Nasir Carter Paris allegedly unfolded.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps

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District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced late Friday that a 23-year-old from Crown Heights has been arraigned on charges pertaining to the brutal death of a two-year-old boy, Nasir Carter Paris.

The young boy, tragically lost to alleged violence, was in the care of Latrell Lewis, the boyfriend of Nasir’s mother, at the time of the incident. The mother was away at work, believing her son to be in safe hands.

The little boy was even known to call his alleged killer, “daddy.”

“Little Nasir was a helpless, defenseless child entrusted by his mother to the defendant’s care while she was at work,” Gonzalez said. “Instead of ensuring the toddler’s safety, the defendant allegedly beat him so severely that he tragically died. We are determined to see that this defendant is held responsible for this senseless crime, and our hearts are with his mother and loved ones as they grieve this horrific loss.”

Lewis was presented before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo on Friday, where he faced a series of grave charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Denied bail, Lewis is set to return to court on November 17, 2023. If found guilty of the primary charge, he could serve a sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison.

According to the details shared by the District Attorney, on the fateful morning of August 27, 2023, Nasir’s mother left her son in the care of Lewis in their Bergen Beach home on East 68th Street. A few hours into the day, Lewis called the boy’s mother, reporting complaints of stomach pain from Nasir. An ambulance was called around noon, rushing the toddler to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The chilling results of the autopsy painted a grim scene. Nasir’s death was attributed to brutal blunt force injuries to his head and torso, leading to grievous damages like a depressed skull fracture, internal bleeding and various contusions. These injuries, the Medical Examiner noted, align with multiple deliberate blunt force traumas.

Compounding the tragedy, the indictment also cites an earlier incident from April 2023. During this time, Nasir suffered a spiral fracture to his femur, allegedly while under Lewis’s care, and medical attention was purportedly not sought.

The case against Lewis is being spearheaded by a dedicated team from the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, including Assistant District Attorney Perry Cerrato and Senior ADA Chelsea Jacobi, all under the guidance of Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory.

The family of Latrell Lewis staunchly defends his innocence in the wake of the tragic death of two-year-old Nasir and released a statement declaring his innocence. The statement emphasized his role within a large, tight-knit family and his history of caring for many young relatives without incident, they assert that he would never harm a child. The family conveys their profound sorrow over Nasir’s death, highlighting Latrell’s bond with the young boy, and they voice their hope for a just resolution to the case.

“Latrell was raised by his parents, stepmother, brother and his 5 older sisters,” said a statement provided by the family. “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. […] 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.”