Neighbors raised concerns about access to the retention pond as a memorial grew near the water where the children died.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The drowning deaths of two young brothers in a retention pond near their Daytona Beach apartment have prompted neighbors to call for additional safety measures around the water as police continue to describe the deaths as an apparent accident.
Five-year-old Elijah Hawkins and 3-year-old Kashh Williams were found dead after disappearing from their apartment Oct. 10. In the days after their deaths, flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and other memorial items appeared near the pond while some residents questioned whether fencing or other barriers could reduce children’s access to the water.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said investigators found no obvious signs of foul play. Police believe the boys managed to get through a child safety lock and leave their apartment with the family dog while their mother was taking a short nap. Surveillance video later showed the children near the retention pond, allowing investigators to establish a timeline of what happened.
Police said the boys were seen near the pond at about 5:57 p.m. Elijah became submerged at about 6:02 p.m., followed by Kashh about a minute later. Their mother was recorded outside at about 6:06 p.m. searching the area and calling for the dog, according to Young. Police received the missing-child report at about 6:19 p.m.
The deaths have focused attention in the apartment community on how easily young children can reach retention ponds. Residents interviewed by local news organizations said they wanted officials and property managers to consider fencing or other measures around the water. No confirmed plan for a new barrier had been announced as of Tuesday.
Retention ponds are common features in Florida developments, where they collect and manage stormwater. In this case, authorities have not said that the pond violated any safety requirement or that its design contributed to the deaths. Police have also not announced any finding of wrongdoing by the apartment property or its management.
The memorial beside the pond became a visible sign of the community’s grief Monday. Flowers and children’s items were placed near the shoreline where the boys’ bodies had been recovered. Residents who spoke publicly about the deaths described the loss as devastating and said the incident had heightened concern about children living near open water.
Young said the police investigation found the children’s home clean, supplied with food and comfortable. He said the evidence gathered by detectives indicated an accident rather than intentional harm. Investigators nevertheless forwarded the case to the State Attorney’s Office so prosecutors can independently determine whether any criminal charge is appropriate.
No charges had been announced as of Tuesday. The referral does not mean a charge will be filed, and police have continued to characterize the deaths as accidental based on the evidence available to investigators.
The immediate police investigation has established how the boys reached the pond and when they became submerged, but the broader question raised by neighbors remains unresolved: whether changes will be made around the residential pond. No government agency, property owner or management company had publicly announced a confirmed fencing project in the reporting reviewed for this article.
Author note: Last updated October 13, 2026.