A Queens man has been convicted on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, for the death of his toddler son and assaults on the boy's younger brother. The Queens District Attorney's Office announced that Shaquan Butler, 29, faces up to 32 years to life in prison following the verdict.
During the trial, it was revealed that Butler's son, Shaquan Butler Jr., suffered from numerous injuries, leading to his death in November 2022. According to testimony and evidence presented at the court, the young boy had "23 fractures to his ribs, three lacerations to his liver, bruises from head to toe along with other injuries and an empty stomach," the DA's office reported. The trial, which began on July 21, concluded with a jury deliberation of about three hours.
Butler, who at the time lived in an Elmhurst family shelter, had made a call to 911 claiming his 3-year-old son was unresponsive due to choking. However, medical personnel discovered the child in a dire state, with visible injuries that contradicted Butler's account. According to the charges and trial testimony, "EMTs found the 3-year-old naked on the floor, covered in cold water and unresponsive with visible bruises covering his body including three large bruises on his forehead," as reported by the District Attorney's office.
The case took a turn when the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma, and there was substantial internal bleeding with no evidence of an obstructed airway. In addition to the deceased toddler, medical examinations of Shaquan's brother, then 2-years-old, indicated malnutrition and signs of physical abuse, aligning with patterns characteristic of child abuse. Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Selkowe led the prosecution with Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Koo, under the supervision of higher-ranking officials within the DA's Homicide Bureau.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant, who oversaw the trial, is expected to sentence Butler on September 3.
