14-year-old boy dead in Brooklyn shooting, NYPD searching for 3 suspects, officials say
New York City police are searching for three suspects after a 14-year-old boy was shot and killed overnight in Brooklyn, officials said Saturday.
The NYPD said the teenager, identified as Johary Cantave, was shot in the head at around 11:40 p.m. Friday at the intersection of 46th Street and Ninth Avenue in Sunset Park.
3 accused of shooting up vehicle
Cantave was in the back seat of a car, being driven home by his friend's dad, Pedro Castellano. Castellano said they were following his son, who was on a moped.
"These three guys came out of, they were walking up on Ninth Avenue," Castellano said. "They started harassing my son and cursing him and just harassing him, and I seen one of them pull out a gun, so I told my son to run."
He said he then lost sight of his son, all while Cantave sat in the vehicle.
"As I was looking for him, the kids came and they shot up my car," Castellano said.
He said he rushed Contave to Maimonides Hospital as soon as he realized the teen was injured. Cantave was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.
"He's a good kid, man, you know, he didn't deserve that," Castellano said.
It's not clear if Cantave was the intended target.
No arrests have been made, so far. The suspects were described by investigators as three males who were all wearing ski masks and black clothing.
Anyone with any information 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.
Brother, neighbor mourn teen
Contave was just months from graduating middle school, and family and friends say he went by Chris.
His older brother, who didn't want to be identified, saw the teen on his way out of their apartment to hang out with a friend Friday night.
"I told him, go chill. You could chill real quick. Just don't stay out too long, be safe. Safety," the brother said. "He told me alright, bet, safety, bro."
He says he still can't believe that was their last conversation.
Cantave's neighbor and family friend Danielle Thily has lived downstairs for decades and says she watched him grow up.
"He was my little man. He plays with all the kids in the hallway, bringing candy, bringing me soda, knocking on my door," she said.
The teen was the youngest of three siblings. He was 10 years younger than his brother, who said he just wanted to be a positive influence on him and would worry when the teen would occasionally go out at night.
"He's been staying out of trouble. He always looked out for everybody," his brother said. "He was smart. He was just the greatest soul."
