A three-year-old boy has tragically died after falling from an apartment window in Missouri, United States, while his father briefly stepped outside to smoke a cigarette.
The child, identified as Travis Jr, popularly called “T3,” reportedly fell from a high-rise window at Parkview Apartments in St. Louis around 2:30am on Friday, April 10, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police.
A family relative, Terance Hardy, said the toddler had been staying with his father while his mother was in hospital recovering from a leg amputation following gun violence. He explained that the father had put the child to bed before stepping outside for a short smoke break.
However, when the father returned, he could not find the boy and began searching frantically, knocking on doors within the building and alerting neighbours that the child was missing.
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Emergency responders were later called after a missing child report was filed. Police subsequently discovered the boy’s body outside the apartment building.
It remains unclear exactly how the child fell or from which window, although some residents claimed it may have been from an upper floor. Authorities have not confirmed the exact point of the fall, and investigations are ongoing.
According to relatives, concerns have been raised about the building’s safety features, including hallway windows that allegedly do not lock or have protective screens. The St. Louis Housing Authority has also launched a separate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including a review of surveillance footage and building safety standards.
Police have stated that no charges have been filed at this stage as investigations continue.
The child’s death has left family members devastated. His mother, currently in rehabilitation, has also expressed grief on social media, describing her pain and prayers for her children’s safety.
Family and friends have since held a balloon release in honour of the toddler, remembering him as a bright and lively child.