Suspect arrested in shooting death of 15-year-old Jayjon Burnett on subway in Far Rockaway
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NEW YORK -- A 15-year-old died after he was shot in the chest on a moving subway train Friday afternoon in Far Rockaway, Queens.
Investigators said an argument between groups of teens on the southbound A train escalated as the train approached the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station just before 4 p.m.
Police identified the teen as Jayjon Burnett. Good Samaritans reportedly pulled him onto the platform, where first responders performed CPR.
Burnett was rushed to Cohen Children's Hospital, but did not survive.
Keyondre Russell, 18, of Queens, was charged Saturday with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in Burnett's death.
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Police make arrest
Keyondre Russell, 18, of Queens, was charged Saturday with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the killing of Jayjon Burnett, CBS2's Alecia Reid reported.
Police walked that suspect out of the 101st Precinct at around 6 p.m.
The Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station was on lockdown for upwards of seven hours on Friday evening as police examined evidence. They say an argument between two groups started on the street several stops away and then escalated while they were on the train. Before the southbound A train pulled into the terminal, police say the suspect pulled the trigger.
Burnett was hit once in the chest and died at a nearby hospital.
Police say once the train doors opened, everyone scrambled into the streets. NYPD detectives checked every possible piece of surveillance video, including additional footage in the neighborhood.
It was the eighth homicide to happen on mass transit this year. Arrests were made in all the other incidents.
"Any time an act of violence occurs in the subway system, it is taken very seriously. The response from the NYPD is intense. The investigation from our detectives is robust and very thorough," NYPD Chief of Transit Jason Wilcox said.
There was a growing memorial inside Burnett's apartment building as neighbors mourned the teen. Tenants who watched the boy grow up said they are still coming to terms with the senseless shooting.
"It shouldn't have happened. That wasn't for that young man. It wasn't his time. They just took that young boy's life. It's sad. It's sad that we have to go through this every day, having these young boys being killed for no reason at all," Bridget Ford said.
"They don't realize how permanent gun violence is. There is no tomorrow. It's done and that's sad, you know?" Kirk Farnum said.
A GoFundMe page organized by the victim's family says he was murdered a week before his 16th birthday. In 11th grade at the time of his death, his goal was to attend college in Florida.
"His mother, Christine, and father, J, always brought him up in a good way. He went to school, everything. He didn't bother nobody. This wasn't called for," Ford said.
Police ID teen killed
Fatal shooting marks 8th homicide in MTA system this year
The shooting marked an especially dangerous month for MTA commuters. There have now been four deaths in transit in the last two weeks, from stabbings to shootings, CBS2's Alecia Reid reported.
During rush hour Friday, a heated argument on the southbound train turned deadly.
"He's only 15," Far Rockaway resident Ray Jay Durand said of the victim.
Police say someone pulled out a gun and shot the teenager once in the chest. It isn't clear if the two groups knew each other.
"Whether this had any gang or crew nexus to it, that is an avenue that will be explored," NYPD Chief of Transit Jason Wilcox said.
"We're downloading video now to try and figure out who this perpetrator was," said Richard Davey, president of NYC Transit.
It was the eighth homicide to happen in the MTA system this year. All of the suspects in the previous seven killings have been arrested.
Straphangers are on edge.
"I take the train and you never know. It could happen to me. It could happen to anyone," Far Rockaway resident Aaliyah Polanco said.
"It's like too much," Far Rockaway resident Ricardo Rankisson said of the gun violence plaguing the city.
"It's just horrible, horrible," added Charlton D'Souza of the group Passengers United.
Investigators do not believe shooting was random
Police say the 15-year-old boy died after two groups started fighting on an A train.
Investigators believe the attack was not random and are still looking for the shooter. As CBS2's Alecia Reid reported, the violence is part of a disturbing trend in the transit system.
Police say this is the eighth MTA homicide to happen this year, and the fourth in the last two weeks.
Detectives are downloading videos to try and determine who pulled the trigger.
"What is the motivation? That's being investigated, whether this had a gang or crew nexus to it. That will be explored, but that's still to be determined," NYPD Chief of Transit Jason Wilcox said.
Meanwhile, the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station remains closed as police investigate.
During a news conference Friday night, police said two groups of teens started arguing on the southbound A train. The altercation escalated and someone pulled out a gun and shot the 15-year-old boy once in the chest.
He was pulled off the train by good Samaritans when it pulled into the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station. Two officers on patrol immediately administered first aid, police said.
The victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital. He was pronounced dead about an hour later.
Teen dies from injuries as investigation continues
The scene remains very active and the train station remains closed as police investigate the shooting.
Police said the 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest on a moving southbound A train just before 4 p.m. Friday, as people were commuting after work and school.
A witness who called 911 said a number of kids dragged the teenager out of the train after he was shot, and that at one point the boy had a seizure.
Police performed CPR at the scene before he was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The homicide was within the confines of the 101st precinct. The train remains at the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station while detectives continue their investigation.
"You see what's going on. People randomly shooting innocent people. Kids shooting kids. These people waiting for their son to come home. If they didn't get the news, they'll get it. Now what?" one person said.
Commuters should expect delays for the next few hours. A train service between Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue and Broad Channel have been suspended in both directions. Some southbound A trains will end at Euclid Avenue.
Alternative modes of transportation include the Q22, Q52 or Q53 buses.
Teen in critical condition
Chopper 2 over the scene
Police: 15-year-old shot on train
Police say 15-year-old was shot Friday afternoon on board an "A" subway train in Far Rockaway, Queens.
It happened around 3:47 p.m. at Beach 22nd Street and Mott Avenue.
A 911 caller said kids dragged the teen from the train.
There was no immediate word on the teen's condition.
Police were seen performing CPR on the teen.