Cops investigate child's death in Amityville

Suffolk County homicide detectives were investigating the death of a 4-year-old boy who was found alone and unconscious in an Amityville home Wednesday night, police said.

The boy was found on the couch in the home on Ketcham Avenue, Suffolk police Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick said.

Shortly after 4 p.m., Amityville police received a 911 call that a young boy needed medical help, he said. When first responders arrived, they tried to resuscitate the unconscious child.

He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he was pronounced dead.

Fitzpatrick, commander of the Suffolk police homicide squad, said the boy and his 6-year-old sister were living at the home with two adults who were not their parents.

The child was "a victim of violence," Fitzpatrick said, confirming there were visible signs of harm.

He said the children went to school, which he would not identify, but they did not attend class Wednesday.

An autopsy is planned for Thursday at the Suffolk County medical examiner's office.

Police said they believe the 911 call was made from the home, but they didn't disclose any description of the caller. Fitzpatrick said the caller is someone they're trying to reach. He said police were trying to speak to anyone who knew the children or the adults.

Fitzpatrick did not disclose the parents' identities Wednesday night.

Ketcham Avenue, where the child's house is located, is a residential street of single-family homes. A woman who has lived on the block near the child's house said it is a fairly quiet street.

Wednesday night, Suffolk police blocked off the street to cars and pedestrians as the investigation continued.