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Man charged with killing toddler in stroller in Brooklyn

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dequan Breland is led from a hearing in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, after being arrested in connection with the death of a New York City toddler shot in his stroller, according to authorities. Police located Breland, 23, and Dequan Wright, 19, at an apartment complex in Wilkes-Barre and arrested them without incident. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Mark Moran)

NEW YORK >> A 23-year-old man who allegedly shot a toddler to death in his stroller on a Brooklyn street was held without bail on a charge of second-degree murder.

Daquan Breland pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in New York Saturday after he and Daquan Wright, 19, were arrested in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. in the slaying of 1-year-old Antiq Hennis.

It wasn’t clear if either suspect had an attorney. Wright is awaiting arraignment.

Authorities say the boy’s parents were pushing him in a stroller while crossing a street in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn on Aug. 1 when gunfire broke out. The child was struck on the left side of his face and pronounced dead at a hospital.

Police believe the child’s father was the intended target, and the shooting may have been gang-related.

Anthony Hennis, 21, had just picked up Antiq at the home of the baby’s mother, Cherise Miller, to take him to visit Hennis’ grandmother, police said. Hennis put the boy in the stroller and was pushing him across the street when four shots were fired, according to police.

New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the motive for the shooting is still unclear and the boy’s father was not cooperating with the investigation.

Witnesses have said the men were standing in the street when Wright handed the gun to Breland, who they allege pulled the trigger. The gun has not been recovered.

On Friday evening, hundreds attended a funeral for Antiq held at the Grace Funeral Chapel in Ozone Park in Queens.

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