Police investigating death of 15-month-old girl in Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, New York (WABC) -- Police in Westchester County are investigating the death of a 15-month-old girl who was found unresponsive inside a home early Friday.

A 911 call directed officers to a home on Washington Street in Mount Vernon around 5:30 a.m.

The lifeless girl was found in a bedroom and was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Authorities say five adults, including the girl's mother, were inside the apartment at the time, along with two girls ages 6 and 9. They are all being questioned, and officials tell Eyewitness News that an arrest is imminent.

"Anytime there's an infant death, absolutely, you always treat it as it it's a homicide," Mount Vernon Police Commissioner Ronald Fatigate said. "It's not the norm for a child to die. For any parent, as the mayor said, it's something, we go to the next level."

Police said the child didn't have a medical condition or illness of which they are aware, but there was some kind of trauma to her face.

Neighbors were shocked by the news.

"She's a good woman, always out here with her kids and doing things with them and stuff like that," family friend William McDowell said. "It kind of caught me off guard."

Carmen Mahony said she saw the child Thursday night with her mother.

"I don't know understand what happened today," Mahoney said. "It's so sad. It's sad."

Evidence teams worked inside the apartment most of the day, while other officers stood outside, not allowing anyone to enter the building.

"This story of what happened is a sad situation," Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas said. "But it is an ongoing investigation."