Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wayne Police Department Police Chief Joseph Rooney announce that at approximately 6:30 p.m. on July 18, 2025, members of the Wayne Police Department responded to a residence located in the area of Armstrong Avenue and Maple Lane in Wayne, New Jersey on a report of a possible drowning. According to witnesses at the scene, a 5-year-old male child had been located floating in a pool after he had left his residence unaccompanied by an adult at about 5:30 p.m. The child was immediately transported to Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:44 p.m.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released once it becomes available.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org.