Sharef Omar Smith (Brevard County Sheriff's Office)
A Georgia man has been arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter after a 3-year-old boy drowned in a hotel pool in Brevard County, Florida.
According to Palm Bay police, 40-year-old Sharef Omar Smith was the only adult present when the child drowned on Saturday at the Quality Inn on Palm Bay Road in Palm Bay. Authorities have not disclosed Smith’s relationship to the boy.
A housekeeper at the hotel discovered the child floating in the deep end of the pool while she was cleaning a third-floor room. In a sworn affidavit, she said she ran to the pool area and shouted at a man later identified as Smith urging him to help the boy. However, Smith was reportedly asleep on the pool steps and failed to respond.
“She yelled at him to grab the child, but he didn’t assist,” the affidavit noted. The housekeeper jumped into action, pulling the toddler from the water and attempting lifesaving measures until emergency crews arrived. Despite her efforts, the boy had been submerged for more than 20 minutes and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Police say Smith finally woke up but still refused to help. He allegedly cursed at hotel staff and showed clear signs of intoxication, including the odor of alcohol on his breath. Investigators noted that Smith had a DUI warrant out of Georgia at the time of his arrest.
The child’s mother told police that Smith was not intoxicated when she left the hotel but admitted he was a “heavy drinker.”
Smith was arrested at the scene and is currently being held without bond. His charge of aggravated manslaughter stems from what police describe as his complete failure to act and apparent impairment while responsible for the child’s care.
The incident has shaken hotel staff and raised serious questions about adult supervision and child safety, especially in pool areas. Authorities continue to investigate the events leading up to the tragedy.
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