Suspected gunman in murder of 15-year-old in Queens arrested after fleeing to Jamaica, NYPD commissioner says
New York City police have arrested the suspected gunman in the murder of 15-year-old Jaden Pierre, who was fatally shot at a park in St. Albans, Queens.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said 18-year-old Zahir Davis fled to Jamaica after the shooting, and that he was taken into custody Friday night when his return flight landed.
Suspected gunman arraigned
The shooting happened April 16 during a watergun fight on a basketball court in Roy Wilkins Park.
Officials say Pierre was being beaten by a group of teens when Davis allegedly pulled out a handgun from his bag and shot Pierre in the chest.
The Queens District Attorney's Office said Davis flew to Jamaica the next day "to evade responsibility," and police urged Davis' family to have him fly back home.
Police named Davis a person of interest nearly a week later. They said he was affiliated with the BG4 gang, which operates in southeast Queens.
Saturday, officers held back Pierre's family members as they pelted Davis with profanity and insults while he was walked out of the 113th Precinct. He was then taken to his arraignment in Queens criminal court, where Pierre's family also followed.
Davis stood quietly before a judge as he was charged with second-degree murder, gang assault, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon Davis' private attorney entered a not guilty plea.
He is being considered a flight risk, and is due back in court for this case on Wednesday.
If convicted, Davis faces 25 years to life in prison.
Outreach workers helping family
Even through Saturday's rain, candles burned bright for Pierre at a heartfelt memorial for the teen in Roy Wilkins Park.
Mimi Imani, an outreach worker with the youth empowerment group King of Kings, has been working closely with Pierre's family.
"Right now, the family is hurting," she said. "Friends are hurting. Other kids are hurting."
"A 15-year-old shot for nothing. A life is taken," said Carolyn Dixon, founder of the organization Where Do We Go From Here. "This family now have to learn how to live their new life without Jaden. Without him. And that's a process."
Dixon also lost a son to gun violence and is helping support Pierre's family through their darkest hour, saying loved ones just want their cries for justice to be heard.
"We have to get these guns out of our community," she said. "Then we can consider other resources in doing something with the youth in our community."
