Detectives spent several hours at a Fort Lauderdale home on Friday investigating the death of an infant, after officers responded to a medical call along the 1500 block of Northwest 15th Terrace.
Police arrived around midday, taping off the residence as they conducted their investigation. A heavy police presence remained in the neighborhood for much of the afternoon.
“I came outside to throw the trash out. I saw about 30 police cars — caught me off guard, caught everybody off guard. The whole neighborhood,” one resident told 7News.
Neighbors said detectives canvassed the area, asking if anyone had seen or knew the people living in the home.
“The police say this morning, the baby was born this morning and now the baby [is] dead. They don’t know how the baby died,” another resident said. “He came around asking, ‘Have we ever seen these people?’ … But these people never come outside. Windows closed, they don’t ever come outside.”
Residents told reporters they were unaware anyone in the home was pregnant and expressed shock and sadness over the tragedy. “I’m just sad about the baby. My heart go out for the baby though,” said one neighbor.
Police confirmed that Broward County Animal Control removed a dog from the home as part of the ongoing investigation.
As of Friday evening, Fort Lauderdale Police said it remains unclear whether foul play was involved, and the cause of the infant’s death has not yet been released.
