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.
