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Bayside baby dies after alleged assault by father: NYPD

By Juan Soto and Madina Toure

A Bayside infant who was allegedly assaulted by his father died on Christmas Eve, the NYPD said.

On Saturday, the 4-month-old baby, had difficulty breathing and was unconscious, police said. He was taken to Flushing Hospital in critical condition before he was transferred to Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead Wednesday at around 2:52 p.m., police said.

The father, Jagsheer Singh, 28, of 205-40 Brian Crescent in Bayside, was arrested and charged with assault and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the NYPD.

A Queens Criminal Court judge set bail at $200,000, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. His next court date is Jan. 5. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

The charges were expected to be upgraded.

“Instead of protecting and nurturing this helpless, innocent baby, the defendant is accused of tragically assaulting his son and causing skull fractures and widespread brain injury,” Brown said. “The baby is in grave condition and if he does not survive, the charges will be upgraded.”

The baby’s mother, a radiologist, left her son with her husband last Friday night when she went to work at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, according to the criminal complaint. When she got back home from her shift at the hospital Saturday morning, she went to bed without checking on the baby, the complaint continued.

Singh told the investigators that the baby woke up about 7 a.m. and appeared to be normal, the complaint said. Brown said Singh prepared a bottle to feed the baby and 30 minutes later, he took the infant to the shower.

Singh claimed the baby fell off the changing table, according to Brown. Singh did not tell his wife about the incident, Brown said. Sometime later, Singh said he noticed the baby having difficulty breathing, woke up his wife and called 911, the district attorney said, based on statements made by Singh.

The baby was taken to Flushing Hospital Medical Center and later transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. At the hospital, Brown said, an examination by the medical personnel revealed the infant had suffered multiple severe skull fractures and widespread brain injury.

The DA said doctors determined that the injuries sustained by the baby were inconsistent with the fall from the changing table, which is about four feet high.

The medical examiner will determine the cause of death and the investigation remains ongoing, the NYPD said.

Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail at jsoto‌@cngl‌ocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.