Akeem Bernard Charged With Saturday Morning Shooting Of 3-Year-Old Tharell Edwards

Akeem Bernard, 22, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of a weapon, and tampering with evidence following the shooting of 3-year-old Tharell Edwards at 520 E 21st Street this weekend.

Bernard, described as a family friend and fellow building resident, was in the apartment with Tharell and Alexis Wells, Tharell’s mother Nichelle Edwards’ roommate, early Saturday morning when police say the toddler was shot in the head. The NY Post reports that Wells saw Bernard put a gun in a shoebox shortly before the incident, then heard a shot and found Tharell in Bernard’s arms. Bernard allegedly told her not to call 911 immediately so that he had time to stash the gun.

“I did not shoot anybody,” Bernard reportedly said while being led from the 70th Precinct around 4am Sunday morning. According to NBC New York, Bernard’s lawyer Nelson Schmukler claims Bernard loved and often babysat for Tharell himself.

News reports quote multiple neighbors voicing their anger over the violence Tharell has faced in his life, including a bite from Nichelle Edwards’ boyfriend’s pit bull last month that is said to have left him wearing a colostomy bag.

Tharell Edwards currently is in critical but stable condition, while Akeem Bernard is being held on $75,000 bail. News 12 says Bernard is due back in court on August 30.