Pa sought custody of tragic tot

THE FATHER OF a doomed Westchester County toddler tried to get custody of the girl a day before a confrontation Saturday that ended with the girl’s death and her knife-wielding mom being shot by cops.

Mamaroneck police refused to enforce a judge’s order requiring Gabriella Boyd, 2, be placed in her father Stephen Boyd’s custody, the distraught dad’s lawyer, Martin Rosen, told reporters Monday.

Rosen said he petitioned a Family Court judge for a temporary order granting Boyd custody.

On Friday, Mamaroneck police accompanied the father to the mom’s home, but the mom, Cynthia Arce, refused to surrender Gabriella and shut the door on them, he said. Boyd asked police to enforce the judge’s order, enter the home and take Gabriella, Rosen said.

“They refused,” Rosen said. “They said they had some doubts as to whether they had the authority to enter the house.”

By Saturday, Gabriella was dead.

A panicked 911 call brought police to the home, where they found the girl unconscious. Her mom attacked two of the responding officers with a knife, cops said. Officers trued stunning her with a Taser, then shot and wounded her.

The girl was pronounced dead later that day. Though autopsy results are pending, WNBC reported that police believe her death was a homicide.

Arce has not been charged.