FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 6, 2019
East New York Teenager Indicted for Fatally Shooting Man
in Prospect Lefferts-Gardens Bodega Following Dispute
Defendant Allegedly Shot into the Bodega from Sidewalk, Striking Victim Multiple Times
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that an 18-year-old teenager has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder for fatally shooting a man inside a Prospect Lefferts-Gardens bodega following an earlier dispute between the victim and the defendant’s friend.
District Attorney Gonzalez said, “When this defendant allegedly opened fire, he claimed the life of a father of six and well-known member of the Flatbush community. He also endangered the lives of every other innocent person inside the store. There is no place in Brooklyn for gun violence. We will now seek to get justice for the victim and his loved ones.”
The District Attorney identified the defendant as Joshua Louis, 18, of East New York, Brooklyn. The defendant was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The defendant was held without bail and ordered to return to court on February 28, 2020. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.
The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on October 10, 2019 at approximately 9:55 p.m., the defendant began looking for Dwayne Smith, 41, following an earlier dispute between the victim and a friend of the defendant. The defendant allegedly found the victim inside of KHF Supermarket on Flatbush Avenue, near Parkside Avenue, and fired into the store from the sidewalk multiple times.
Smith, an amateur filmmaker and clothing designer, was struck several times in the torso and was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he died.
Surveillance video from outside the bodega shows the defendant allegedly pull out a gun and repeatedly shoot into the store. An eyewitness also identified the defendant as the shooter.
The case was investigated by New York City Police Department Detective Gregg Licari of the 71st Precinct and Detective Gilbert Alonso of Brooklyn South Homicide. Paralegal Meghan Brancato, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, assisted in the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Olatokunbo Olaniyan, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Timothy Gough, Homicide Bureau Chief.
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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.