By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times
The Shinnecock Indian Reservation was the sight of a tragedy involving a 17-month old baby and his sitter, who police say struck the child hard enough to kill him.
Pedro Jones, 20, of Southampton was babysitting the little boy, Roy Jones, when he allegedly hit him "several times throughout his body with close fists" and "grabbed him by the neck," WPIX reported.
Jones, who is not a member of the Shinnecock nation, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter.
Police say Jones, who has been identified as the boyfriend of the boy's mother, allegedly told them, "I was trying to make him act like a boy instead of a little girl. I never struck that kid that hard before. A one-time mistake and I am going to do 20 years." Newsday.com reported.
Baby Jones was found in cardiac arrest and rushed to Southampton Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. A spokeswoman for the Shinnecock Tribe told WPIX that members of the Tribe were in mourning after the tragedy.
Jones pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday at Southampton Town Justice Court and is currently being held without bail at the Suffolk County jail.
The baby's grandfather, Daniel Collins told WPIX that Jones, "infiltrated" his family through his daughter, then "stole the life" of her son.
"I hope the justice system turns around and steals his," said Collins.
Members of the Shinnecock Nation were present at Jones' arraignment, and the child's grandmother yelled, "You killed my grandson. I hope you rot in hell," and another Nation member spat on the accused as he was being led out of the courtroom, TheGothamist reported.
Jones may face additional charges or have his current charge upgraded pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation, police said.
President Obama signed a measure last week that gave tribal courts on Indian Reservations tougher sentencing powers and set stricter rules surrounding the collection of data on crimes. Special U.S. prosecutors will be appointed to tackle what advocates of the measure describe as an epidemic of violence, including rape and sexual assault, within Indian reservations.
Advocates of the Tribal Law and Order Act, which took three years to put together, said the measure will ensure that more crimes will be reported and prosecuted amid worries that many cases go unpunished.
RELATED NEWS ABOUT THE SHINNECOCK NATION
Shinnecock Drug, Weapons Bust Shocker
Learn More About The Shinnecock Nation
Shinnecock Indian Reservation
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facebook.com/theblackurbantimes
The Black Urban Times
The Shinnecock Indian Reservation was the sight of a tragedy involving a 17-month old baby and his sitter, who police say struck the child hard enough to kill him.
Pedro Jones, 20, of Southampton was babysitting the little boy, Roy Jones, when he allegedly hit him "several times throughout his body with close fists" and "grabbed him by the neck," WPIX reported.
Jones, who is not a member of the Shinnecock nation, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter.
Police say Jones, who has been identified as the boyfriend of the boy's mother, allegedly told them, "I was trying to make him act like a boy instead of a little girl. I never struck that kid that hard before. A one-time mistake and I am going to do 20 years." Newsday.com reported.
Baby Jones was found in cardiac arrest and rushed to Southampton Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. A spokeswoman for the Shinnecock Tribe told WPIX that members of the Tribe were in mourning after the tragedy.
Jones pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday at Southampton Town Justice Court and is currently being held without bail at the Suffolk County jail.
The baby's grandfather, Daniel Collins told WPIX that Jones, "infiltrated" his family through his daughter, then "stole the life" of her son.
"I hope the justice system turns around and steals his," said Collins.
Members of the Shinnecock Nation were present at Jones' arraignment, and the child's grandmother yelled, "You killed my grandson. I hope you rot in hell," and another Nation member spat on the accused as he was being led out of the courtroom, TheGothamist reported.
Jones may face additional charges or have his current charge upgraded pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation, police said.
President Obama signed a measure last week that gave tribal courts on Indian Reservations tougher sentencing powers and set stricter rules surrounding the collection of data on crimes. Special U.S. prosecutors will be appointed to tackle what advocates of the measure describe as an epidemic of violence, including rape and sexual assault, within Indian reservations.
Advocates of the Tribal Law and Order Act, which took three years to put together, said the measure will ensure that more crimes will be reported and prosecuted amid worries that many cases go unpunished.
RELATED NEWS ABOUT THE SHINNECOCK NATION
Shinnecock Drug, Weapons Bust Shocker
Learn More About The Shinnecock Nation
Shinnecock Indian Reservation
twitter.com/thebutmsdotcom
facebook.com/theblackurbantimes
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