9-year-old dies after being injured in fire at Brownsville, Brooklyn home
BROWNSVILLE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A family is in mourning after a 9-year-old girl died from injuries she suffered in a fire at a home in Brooklyn Friday morning.
Flames broke out on the second floor of the home on Howard Avenue in Brownsville just before 5:30 a.m.
The victim's uncle, Joseph Thompson, said Payton Thompson was in her room on the third floor the fire broke out.
Ten family members were sleeping inside the home when the fire broke out and choking smoke filled the house. Firefighters encountered heavy clutter while they battled the blaze.
The victim was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
"She was the last one to make it out and unfortunately she didn't make it," he said. "The smoke had took over her body, surrounded her heart and so she didn't make it."
He said his niece was energetic, fun-loving and loved her family. Her baby sister turned 1-year-old on Friday.
The close-knit family is leaning on one another and their faith.
"My mother is a pastor of a church, she's the pastor and I'm the assistant pastor, it's called Faith Tabernacle of Deliverance," Thompson said.
Investigators spent the day trying to find a cause of the fire.
Marshals hunted for clues and a K-9 searched too, but even the answers won't bring Payton back home.
"Love on your families, love on your children, you never know when the next time may be the last time," Thompson said.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials said it is not suspicious.
To help or make a donation to the family, the family has a GoFundMe or you can email FaithTabOfDeliverance@gmail.com or reach out to the church at 1080 Saint Johns Place.
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