Coney Island man, 19, indicted on murder charges after death of 16-month-old daughter

A 19-year-old Coney Island man was indicted on murder and assault charges on Monday, July 17, following the death of his 16-month-old daughter in June.

According to Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Shaquan Taylor was arraigned Monday on a 10-count indictment charging him with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, among other charges, in connection to the death of his daughter, Nylah.

According to the investigation, Taylor took custody of the young girl on June 16. Two days later, on Father’s Day, he contacted the toddler’s 17-year-old mother via Facebook Messenger and asked her to pick Nylah up from his West 23rd Street home.

When she arrived, the mother found the child unresponsive and told Taylor to call 911, at which point, investigation claims, the father refused. Furthermore, when the mother took the young girl out of the apartment, Taylor allegedly struck her, handed the child to a bystander and continued to assault the mother, who had an order of protection against the father based on a previous incident.

Nylah – who sustained a linear skull fracture and swelling of the brain, as well as swelling and bruising to the face and body – was on life support at Maimonides Medical Center until June 23, when she died from her injuries. The mother also sustained cuts and swelling to her eye.

Taylor claims the young girl fell from her bed, though officials have declared her injuries inconsistent with such a fall.

“This father was supposed to protect his innocent baby daughter but instead he allegedly violently and senselessly took her life and then assaulted her mother when she tried to come to her rescue,” said Gonzalez. “I intend to hold him fully accountable for this unspeakable crime.”

Taylor faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

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