Kevin James: Brooklyn babysitter's stepson charged with murder after 3-year-old boy found dead in bathtub

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BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: The adult stepson of a Brooklyn babysitter has been charged with murder after authorities found his 3-year-old neighbor dead in a bathtub on the night of Sunday, March 17th.

When police arrived at an apartment building at 770 New York Ave in East Flatbush at around 9:45 a.m. in response to a 911 call, they discovered 3-year-old Denim Brown "unconscious and unresponsive" in a bathroom.

Kevin James, 29, was charged. Law enforcement sources said that Shamanda Brown, James' mother, had left Denim with James' 66-year-old stepfather in a different apartment.

Charges against Kevin James

Under the NYPD, EMS personnel hurried the child to NYC Health and Hospitals/Kings County Hospital, but he was unsuccessful.

James is accused of killing the young boy and is being charged with murder, assault, and acting in a way that endangers children.

The boy had serious head injuries, according to police sources who spoke with the New York Post, even though the city medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death.

In the building's lobby, grieving friends and neighbors had impromptu created a memorial by Tuesday morning, March 19, embellished with footballs, candles, teddy bears, and blue balloons.

As she held her one-week-old daughter in her arms, one woman remarked, "I used to see him walking and talking to his mom." She further added, “So young. It’s scary and to know we all live in the same building. I feel it, you know?”

A 16-year-old boy whose family was acquainted with the victim's and suspect's families said the charges and the victim's death were incomprehensible.

“It’s a shock to all of us because this building we are one big family,” teenager Sam Philippe told The Post. “We didn’t only lose one person, but it’s like to me I lost two.”

In addition, Philippe expressed doubts about James' ability to carry out the charges against him.

“I really looked up to him personally,” he said. “He is a very respectable young man, had a lot going on. He was making music going on his own brand.”

A man and a woman close to the victim's family stated that they are from Jamaica and Brown often left her young son with her boyfriend or the neighbor.

A 16-year-old boy whose family was acquainted with the victim's and suspect's families said the charges and the victim's death were incomprehensible. “It’s a shock to all of us because this building we are one big family,” teenager Sam Philippe said.

He added, “We didn’t only lose one person, but it’s like to me I lost two.”

Philippe also said he didn’t think James was capable of what he’s been accused of. “I really looked up to him personally,” he said. “He is a very respectable young man, had a lot going on. He was making music going on his own brand.”

Neighbors and family describe Denim Brown as 'good boy'

The two said that the boy's frequent watcher was a neighbor who lived with his wife and three sons. The youngest of the three, James, was renowned for doing little more than smoking pot and relaxing on the steps.

“I know all of them,” the man said. “Man, it’s tough. I see [Denim] with his mother all the time, coming and going, because she spent a lot of time with him.

“He was a very active kid,” the man continued. “It’s really upsetting because [Denim and James] knew each other. The kid stayed over there all the time. The kid is gone, man, such a sweet little kid.”

She concurred, describing Denim as a "good boy." She remarked, "It's a sad story... only God knows why," and mentioned that she had recently seen Brown.

“When she got off the elevator, my chest swelled up with happiness and sadness at the same time,” the woman said. “Her mother died leaving a little baby, and now she has a baby and is going to nursing school — and her mother is not here to see it."

“Next day I came downstairs, and I hear this,” she said as she shook her head.

A second woman, only known as San, claimed to have seen Denim at Ralph Henry Playground with his babysitter just hours before he passed away. “I saw him alive the evening and we were at the park. He was running around with my son. They were playing on my son’s scooter,” San said.

She went on to say, “He had a basketball. I tied his lace because he was about to trip. They were playing together and then you know to hear a couple hours later this child was killed. Every time I look at the park, I remember this child playing and running around the trees. I see him still in the park.”

She concluded by saying, “Even though this was not my child, this could’ve been my child,” she added. “I am just wondering why, why?”

According to police, Denim's death is still being investigated.