A 3-year-old Brooklyn boy still recovering from a vicious pit-bull attack only two months ago was fighting for his life again after he was shot in the head as he slept in his crib yesterday.

Akeem Bernard, 22, a family acquaintance with a record of at least six arrests — including one for weapons possession — was charged last night with assault, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a weapon.

Tharell Edward was in critical, but stable condition at New York Hospital.

He has overcome much in his short, sad life.

Tharell was born prematurely to a woman who neighbors say spent most of her time ignoring him. His dad, they said, was never in the picture.

The mom, Nichelle Edward, 43, left him Friday night in the care of a woman who neighbors said was her roommate.

The roommate, who was not identified, then invited Bernard to join her in the Ditmas Park apartment. The woman told police she heard gunfire at about 3:30 a.m. yesterday. Bernard told cops he carried the boy to her.

He claimed the bullets were fired from outside — but cops said the only holes they found were in his story and not in the windows.

The weapon was not found, and authorities also charged him with tampering with evidence for allegedly getting rid of it.

Bernard quickly lawyered up — and did not make statements.

The circumstances of the shooting were unclear, and a source said cops had no reason to believe it was not an accident.

Jacintha Fleming, a neighbor in the building, said she was desperately worried about the boy.

“I hope they take that child away,’’ she said.

“He’s not safe. She [Nichelle] needs to be a better mother. He’s supposed to be safe in his own home.

“He’s overcome a lot, but I think it’s time for her to get into trouble. I’m not sorry for her. I’m sorry for the baby.”

Fleming said the pit bull who attacked Tharell belonged to his mom’s boyfriend at the time.

“He healed rather good,” Devon Reyes, another Nichelle pal, said of the child, who had to wear a colostomy bag.

“He’s a vibrant kid.”

Sources said the Administration for Children’s Services was notified after the dog attack, but it is unclear if it took any action.

The ACS did not return repeated calls for comment.

City Councilman Mathieu Eugene visited the apartment building to reach out to the boy’s family. It’s only a few blocks away from a church where he helped collect 69 guns at a recent buy-back event.

“That was not enough,” he said. “We have to do more.”

Nichelle had herself been a victim of gunfire in 2006, when her hand was injured in a drive-by shooting in front of the building. A 34-year-old man was fatally shot in the chest in the same incident, police said.

They would not say whether she had been a target or a bystander.

A cousin of the child, who asked that her name not be revealed, wiped away tears as she spoke.

“Tharell is very active. He wins you over with his smile,” she said.

“He’s a strong kid. He’s been through a lot.”

Additional reporting by Daniel Prendergast