A child is dead after police say his older brother threw him from their Brooklyn apartment building.

4-year-old Shimron Smith was found dead in the courtyard of the building on Nostrand Avenue in Flatlands early this morning.

Police say Smith's brother has admitted to throwing the child from an elevated part of their apartment building.

"He was a nice, good boy, very quiet and nice. We don't have all the facts, and I know that there are many families who may be going through similar situations - who have mental illness of some sort and I think that we need more support groups out here to assist those families in need and get those individuals the help that they need," one resident said.

Sources tell NY1 the 20-year-old has a history of mental illness.

He has not been charged and the investigation is ongoing.