Suffolk County police arrested a man accused killing a 4-year-old boy found alone inside a Long Island home.
Adonis Reed was found unconscious and alone in an Amityville apartment on Wednesday afternoon. The boy later died at the hospital.
Jonathan Thompson was apprehended Friday night around 7:35 p.m. in Brooklyn. He was arraigned Saturday in Central Islip on murder charges.
It was an emotional day in court as family and friends of the victim attended the hearing.
Some people wept openly. Others were brought to their knees in the parking lot outside the Suffolk County courthouse. Others were clearly angry and outraged about the death of their relative Adonis Reed.
"He didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve to get beat like that," said one family member.
Thompson has pleaded not guilty to second degree murder charges. But prosecutors say the 31-year-old has admitted he punched the 4-year-old boy twice and caused significant internal bleeding; all because the child wouldn't take a nap.
Investigators say Thompson lived in the house where Reed was discovered dead Wednesday.
The boy was found alone inside the home, badly bruised. It's unclear what Thompson's relationship to the boy is, but reports indicate he was dating the child's grandmother who also lived at the house.
Lashon Reed says she is victim's aunt.
"A God given gift and we cherished him. And I tried so long to help him," said Reed.
Adonis Reed had a sister and she is now in the custody of the child welfare department.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:00:29 GMT
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As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
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Sunday, May 19 2013 3:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:14:07 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
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A proposal to build a major Long Island casino with video slot machines is part of closed-door negotiations to expand casino gambling in New York.
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