A grieving father from the Bronx is remembering the life of a young boy, who he says died too soon. On Monday, a gathering was held on what would have been his 9th birthday at Washington Square Park. 

Joseph Barney passed away on June 2. 

Police say on June 1 they were called to Montefiore Hospital, where the boy’s mother had brought him unconscious and unresponsive--although they say he didn’t have any visible trauma. 

Sources tell News 12 the boy was believed to have been malnourished. Barney’s father and stepmother say they are in shock. 

They say the little boy they knew was healthy and energetic. 

Family and friends brought balloons and wrote messages on them to release to the sky in honor of Barney. 

The medical examiner’s office is still working on determining the cause of death at this time.