DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona Beach community is raising concerns about the lack of fencing around a retention pond where two young brothers, ages 5 and 3, were found dead after being reported missing.
Nearly 200 people gathered Saturday night for a vigil honoring Elijah and Kashh. On Monday, community members returned to the apartment complex to voice concerns about the open bodies of water and the need for additional safety measures.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young released a timeline of the boys’ final moments, based on surveillance video from the complex.
Young said the video shows the boys playing near the retention pond before both became submerged within minutes. At 6:02 p.m., the older child went underwater, followed by his younger brother at 6:03 p.m. At 6:06 p.m., the video shows their mother coming outside to search for them.
Police say the boys were able to leave the apartment while their mother, a single parent, took a brief nap. Their family dog also got out of the apartment, according to the chief.
Young said the older boy, Elijah, was autistic and noted that some children with autism may be drawn to water.
The chief said divers spent several hours searching for the boys. Police also said the children had been underwater for more than 20 minutes before officers were called.
Investigators do not believe foul play was involved. The case has been forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether charges are warranted.
The tragedy has also prompted questions from residents about whether fencing could help prevent similar incidents.
“There’s no fences around these retention ponds to stop these babies from going into the pond,” resident Michael Lowe said.
Resident Steve Miller acknowledged that fencing may not always be visually appealing but said protecting lives should come first.
“We know that sometimes a fence can be unpleasant to look at, but we know that life is more important,” Miller said.
Young also spoke about the emotional toll the incident has taken on officers who responded to the scene. He said the department offers critical-incident debriefings with a doctor and a therapist to give first responders an opportunity to process what they experienced.
“This is your greatest nightmare, to lose both of your children in that fashion,” Young said.
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