The incident happened just before 10:30 a.m. at the apartment of the boy’s aunt on West 133rd Street.
Authorities say Daniel Gales fell into a staircase through the building’s back window, which leads to the basement in the back courtyard.
Gallis was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, where he was pronounced dead.
On Friday night, the Harlem community came together to pray as they remembered the young boy.
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The NYPD looks at a piece of cardboard placed between the air conditioner and the wall, as the boy was apparently jumping on the bed when he collapsed.
At present, it is being investigated as an accident.
His grandmother, Maria Rivera, tells Eyewitness News that the boy’s fourth birthday would have been a Monday.
She said the aunt was looking after her and other children in the family, which included siblings and cousins.
The boy’s mother works as a security guard in the Bronx, and she was at her job at the time.
Neighbor Geraldo Busanet ran to help and said he was excited to see it.
“I just started crying because I saw her breathing,” he said. “I just broke down. I have grandchildren, you know?”
He says that he thought of them and how this tragic accident could have been prevented.
“Especially if you know the A/C’s got the cardboard, and you’ve got the bed right under it,” he said. “Oh my god, it could have been avoided. It could have been avoided.”
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NYPD Community Affairs Pastor Contact accompanied the bereaved family.
“You leave your child with a family member, then you find out your child is no longer here,” said NYPD Chaplain Robert Rice. “So I’m preparing myself to have the right words to say to this mom.”
Police say all other windows in the apartment had bars, but that bedroom window did not have an air conditioner unit and broken panels.
Building supers are legally obligated to ensure that those air conditioners are properly installed and secure, but it is possible that the panels break after some time.
The investigation continues.
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