Police: 15-year-old Foridun Maulonou dies of injuries after being shot in broad daylight in Brooklyn
NEW YORK - A teen who was shot leaving a summer school program in Brooklyn Monday has died.
Police have identified the suspect, who they say is another student, but are still looking for him.
The family of Foridun Maulonou, 15, are still trying to comprehend why the young judo champion, with so much to live for, was taken from them.
"His father, mother are sobbing. His sister, brothers, we are all sobbing," his brother told CBS2 in Russian. "I saw him yesterday. Today he is gone. I want the person who shot him, who killed him, for this guy to answer for this."
Surveillance video showed a man in a black hoodie pull out a gun.
Police said it all started with an argument between other students - not Maulonou - during summer school at FDR High School.
"Perpetrator of this, a 17-year-old, he gets into words with another male. They agree to meet up after school. They were going to have a fistfight," NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said.
Police said Maulonou was part of a group of six men and a woman who they believe were walking with the intended target near 20th Avenue and 62nd Street around 1 p.m. as they spotted the rival student with a weapon.
"Perpetrator pulls out a gun, fires seven shots from a nine millimeter handgun. Doesn't hit the person he was going to have the fight with, and hits our 15-year-old," Essig said.
"I seen some noise outside. I was thinking kids playing. All of a sudden I see everyone running," one witness said.
"Faridun was a very good fellow, it's a pity that he died. I think his father is suffering now, he cannot even speak. He said, 'I'm not well, I can't say a word in this condition,'" a family member told CBS New York's Natalie Duddridge in Russian. "We really want the person who fired the shots to be detained, imprisoned, so that other boys do not suffer the same fate."
Witnesses saw one teen fall to the ground. Police said Maulonou was shot in the back. He was taken to Maimonides Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, and died Tuesday morning.
"He left from school. Someone shot and ran away. Nobody stopped him. It has been 24 hours. How do you accept this? His father cannot even open his mouth to speak because he in such pain," his brother said.
Police sources said he had no previous encounters with law enforcement, no gang affiliation.
Police said they have identified the 17-year-old suspect and the NYPD's Warrants Division is looking to apprehend him, though nothing will bring Maulonou's family closure.
Police urge anyone with information on the suspect's location to report him.
So far, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
