Warwick experienced a tragedy this weekend, as a 6-year-old Providence boy died from an apparent accidental drowning at City Park late Sunday afternoon.

Monday morning, Mayor Scott Avedisian, Colonel Stephen McCartney and Fire Chief James McLaughlin held a press conference on the incident at police headquarters.

It was explained that Jamir Stewart, 6, was visiting City Park with his mother, Skyla Arajuo, and an unnamed individual, who may or may not be related to the deceased. According to unverified reports, the boy was missing between a half an hour and 45 minutes before the two lifeguards on duty were alerted he was missing at 5:30 p.m.

As the last known whereabouts of the child were uncertain, a search was conducted throughout the grounds. The beach was walked multiple times and the water was cleared.

Police and Fire responded to a call in under five minutes, spreading throughout the park upon their arrival, searching in restrooms, the bike path and playground.

“We had to cover a gambit of issues when officers arrived on scene because no one was sure of the last place they saw the child,” McCartney said. “All of this was done under circumstances of heightened excitement and tensions.”

As police searched the grounds, firefighters and volunteer patrons began searching the water. They created a linked arm line, “standard protocol,” to find the boy. An unnamed civilian discovered the young boy, who was immediately administered CPR by a firefighter before being transported to Kent Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Both the lifeguards and city services followed protocol and standards set by the American Red Cross. The boy was found in water estimated between three and four feet deep.

Avedisian began yesterday’s press conference offering the sympathy and condolences of the City of Warwick and its fire and police department to the parents of Jamir.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to Skyla Arajuo and Wilbert Stewart III on the tragic loss of their son, Jamir,” he said. “This is a devastating time for the family of this young boy.”

As the investigation into the incident continues, he asked that the public “allow the police department to do their job.”

McCartney explained that a detective attempted to interview family members yesterday at the hospital, but they were “overcome with emotion” to speak on the events. The department is hoping the family reaches out to collaborate with the investigation so the department can “get a better handle as to what we are looking at.”

There is still pertinent information, such as exactly how long the child was missing, needed from the family. The department is still waiting on a report from the medical examiner.

“We are doing the best we can to pin down a better timeline of events,” McCartney said.

As the child was pulled out of the water and CPR was being administered, there was an “altercation” between a family member and the lifeguards, where “threats were made against city employees."

Although McCartney said the altercation could have stemmed from the “great deal of emotion” of the event, at this time there is “concern for city employee safety.”

“I can’t imagine anything worse than losing a child,” McCartney said. “We will be reaching out to the family with a great deal of deference, very diplomatically, because there is still a lot of information they need to share if they will collaborate with us.”

As of the press conference yesterday morning at 11 a.m., the department had yet to hear from the family.

Avedisian commended the two lifeguards on duty for their actions and following protocol to the “fullest extent.”

The two lifeguards, in their second and third year of life guarding for the city, are both college students and have been reassigned to other posts in the city.

“Their job is not an easy one, especially considering the exceptionally hot temperatures and large crowds,” Avedisian said.

It is estimated that throughout Sunday there were between 100 and 200 people at the beach any one time. City Park’s beach remains open through Labor Day, although Avedisian explained that because many lifeguards are college students as they begin to leave to return to school weekly updates will be posted as to which beaches will and will not have lifeguards.

Should the police department find something concerning, Avedisian said there would be a discussion of protocol, but “for now, it is too early to extrapolate what may take place in the future. We will provide updates as we get them.”

PRESS CONFERENCE:

On Monday morning, Mayor Scott Avedisian, along with Colonel Stephen McCartney of the Warwick Police Department and Fire Chief James McLaughlin, hosted a press conference concerning the apparent accidental drowning of 6-year-old Jamir Stewart of Providence at City Park.