About Gary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Brooklyn Man Indicted for PPP Loan Fraud and Voter Petition Scheme

Defendant Allegedly Stole More Than $104,000 in COVID Relief Funds,
Also Charged with Filing Fraudulent Petitions to Run for U.S. Senate

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York State Attorney General Letitia James, today announced that a Brooklyn man has been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $104,000 in COVID-19 relief funds and, separately, for submitting fraudulent election petitions to appear on the 2024 Democratic primary ballot for U.S. Senate.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The defendant allegedly defrauded a critical pandemic relief program and attempted to deceive voters through a fraudulent election petition. Misusing public funds intended to help small businesses recover, and fabricating support to appear on the ballot, are serious allegations that reflect a troubling disregard for the law and public trust. Whether it’s stealing taxpayer money or trying to manipulate an election, these alleged actions demand accountability. My office remains committed to protecting both public resources and the integrity of our democratic process.”

Attorney General James said, “New Yorkers must be able to trust that our democracy and our economy are protected from fraud. Khaled Salem allegedly tried to undermine an election and critical financial aid to businesses with his schemes, but today we are bringing him to justice. I thank District Attorney Gonzalez and the New York State Board of Elections for their collaboration in this investigation and efforts to root out fraud wherever it arises.”

The Co-Executive Directors of the NYS Board of Elections, Raymond J. Riley, III and Kristen Zebrowski Stavisky, said, “The State Board is proud to work with law enforcement on this matter. We want to thank the District Attorney and his team for their diligence and action. While incidents of election fraud are rare, they are serious and unacceptable. New Yorkers deserve to know that those who attempt to undermine the democratic process will face consequences.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Khaled Salem, 53, of Bay Ridge. He is charged in a 60-count indictment with second-degree grand larceny, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, second- and third-degree identity theft and a violation of New York State Election Law. He was ordered released without bail and to return to court on September 24, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, the defendant first applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan on April 6, 2020, for American Human Rights, Inc. (AHR), a nonprofit organization he incorporated in 2019. The defendant received a $104,166 PPP loan on March 15, 2021. The defendant later applied for loan forgiveness claiming that the required amount of loan proceeds was used for payroll costs. The loan application and loan forgiveness application allegedly included false representations about payroll and listed employees who never worked for or were associated with AHR.

Separately, on April 2, 2024, the defendant allegedly had a 12-volume, 5,900 page petition submitted to the New York State Board of Elections, seeking to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot. According to the petition, three subscribing witnesses collected approximately 30,000 signatures across New York State over a twenty-day period. Those subscribing witnesses, however, allegedly denied collecting any signatures for defendant or his campaign. The petition is also alleged to have included forged names, fake addresses and false witness signatures. Ultimately, the defendant was not placed on the ballot.

The District Attorney thanked the New York State Attorney General’s Office and the New York State Board of Elections for their assistance in the investigation, as well as Intelligence Analyst Veranika Basak and Paralegal Jezebel Negrete-Ugaz, both of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, and KCDA Detective Investigators.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Libove, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division, and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in
Prison For Brownsville Execution-Style Shooting

Defendant Shot Victim Multiple Times at Close Range in NYCHA Courtyard

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a man seated on a bench in the courtyard of a public housing complex in Brownsville. The defendant fired five rounds at the unarmed victim and fled the scene.

District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “This was a senseless, execution-style killing of a man who posed no threat. The victim was simply sitting outside when the defendant chose to open fire and take his life, robbing a boy of his father. Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for this horrific act, and I hope it brings a sense of justice to the victim’s loved ones.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Corey Townsend, 42. He was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Eugene Guarino. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on April 8, 2025, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on June 17, 2020, at approximately 9:05 p.m., the defendant approached Romaine Mazyck, 47, as he sat on a bench in the courtyard of the Howard Houses at 80 Osborn Street in Brownsville. The defendant then fired five rounds at close range, striking the victim multiple times in the head and torso, and fled the scene.

The victim was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The defendant was arrested on March 19, 2021.

Trial testimony established that the victim was unarmed and seated when the defendant shot him. The defendant later gave conflicting accounts of the shooting, which the court found to be unreliable and inconsistent with the evidence.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Colby Levin, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 18, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Rush
Hour Subway Shooting That Injured Two Passengers

Defendant Opened Fire on Crowded C Train,
Hitting 17-Year-Old and 52-Year-Old Passengers

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder for opening fire inside a crowded subway car during the evening rush hour, striking two passengers.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying act of gun violence that endangered dozens of commuters and left two people injured. Firing multiple shots on a packed train showed a blatant disregard for human life, and this sentence holds the defendant accountable for his actions. We remain committed to ensuring public safety and delivering justice for victims.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Alexander Villafana, 22, of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Eugene Guarino to 10 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on April 8, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on November 28, 2023, at approximately 5:35 p.m., the defendant was inside a crowded northbound C train approaching the Ralph Avenue station in Bedford-Stuyvesant when he got into a verbal altercation with a 17-year-old boy. The dispute escalated, and the defendant pulled out a gun and fired several shots, one of which struck the teen in the hand. As a 52-year-old passenger fled to an adjacent train car, he was struck in the ankle. A 9mm shell casing and fired bullets were recovered from the subway car.

The teenage victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he underwent treatment for fractures to both hands. The older victim was taken to Kings County Hospital, where a bullet fragment was removed from his fractured ankle.

Following the shooting, the defendant fled to Pennsylvania and changed his appearance. The Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended him at his home in Brooklyn on December 12, 2023.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Omar Harding, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Shooting
Father and Son Following Traffic Dispute

After Victim Asked Him to “Chill Out,” Defendant Returned with Gun And
Opened Fire on Crowded Sidewalk; Apprehended by Bystanders as He Tried to Flee

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for shooting a man in East Flatbush, then also shooting the victim’s dad who tried to intervene. The broad daylight gun violence took place after the defendant became upset at a woman who was parking her car in a driveway, briefly blocking his vehicle, and the victim asked him to calm down.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying act of gun violence that inflicted lasting harm on a father and son and endangered everyone nearby. I commend the extraordinary bravery of the victims and the bystanders who intervened to disarm and detain the shooter. Thanks to their courage and the excellent work of my office, this dangerous individual has been held fully accountable and will no longer pose a threat to our community.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as John Miller, 34, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. The defendant, a violent felony offender, was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to 30 years in prison, following his conviction on two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a jury trial last month.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 12, 2022, at about 6:30 p.m., in the vicinity of East 95th Street in East Flatbush, the first victim, a then 38-year-old man, was sitting in his parked car when he heard a commotion. He stepped out and saw the defendant yelling at a neighbor who was blocking his sedan as she navigated her vehicle into her driveway. He told the defendant to “chill out,” and the defendant responded, “I’ll be back,” before driving off. The victim then went and sat on his stoop.

A short time later, the defendant returned on foot, stood in front of the victim and repeatedly said, “You were the one talking s–t.” The defendant then reached into his pocket, prompting the victim to lunge toward him to grab the gun. But the defendant managed to shoot him twice at close range, striking his back and stomach. The victim’s father, who was 63 at the time and standing by the stoop, ran over to help and was shot once in the upper thigh. A crowd formed and the father managed to pry the gun from the defendant’s hand and give it to a bystander. The defendant attempted to escape but was apprehended by the crowd and held on the ground until police arrived.

The son was taken to Kings County Hospital where he received two life-saving operations, suffered a severe complication, and underwent a high-risk procedure before he was discharged after 17 days. The father was treated in Brookdale Hospital and still suffers from numbness in his right leg and cannot walk without a cane as a result of the injury to his sciatic nerve and the lodged bullet.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica Wishart and Assistant District Attorney Robert Andrea of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Douglas Marquez, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Manhattan Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for
Fatal Shooting of Innocent Bystander Inside Brooklyn Smoke Shop

Victim Was a Mother and Stranger to Defendant; Dog Also Killed by Gunfire

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Manhattan man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison following his guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting a 36-year-old mother who was a stranger to him. The victim was struck by gunfire inside the Bedford-Stuyvesant smoke shop, where she was shopping with her dog. The dog was also killed.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant brazenly opened fire into a store open to the public, killing a completely innocent woman and endangering everyone inside. Today’s sentence ensures he is held accountable for this outrageous act of violence and reflects the seriousness of the harm he caused.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Namel Colon, 39, of the Lower East Side. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on June 9, 2025, before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu, who sentenced him today to 25 years in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on January 2, 2022, at approximately 9:45 p.m., the defendant arrived by car at Salim Smoke Shop, located at 488 DeKalb Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant. He exited the vehicle and fired into the store, striking Jennifer Ynoa, 36, a mother of four, in the torso. Ynoa, who was inside the store with her dog and had no connection to the defendant, was transferred to The Brooklyn Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead. The victim’s dog was also fatally shot. A second person was present in the store at the time of the shooting but was not injured.

The defendant fled the scene but was apprehended by members of the NYPD’s Violent Felony Squad on February 22, 2022.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Da Rin, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 19 Years to Life in Prison
For Murder of Deli Clerk During Flatbush Robbery

Masked Defendant Shot 20-Year-Old Victim in the Head 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 19 years to life in prison following his guilty plea to second-degree murder for shooting a deli clerk in the head during a robbery. The defendant, who fled following the shooting, was apprehended in Newark, New Jersey.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a cold-blooded and senseless execution of a young man who was simply doing his job. Fadhl Moosa’s life was cut short in an act of shocking violence that has devastated his family and shaken the community. Today’s sentence ensures that the defendant will be held accountable for this horrific crime, and I hope it brings some measure of justice and closure to Fadhl’s loved ones.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ricardo Senatus, 32, of Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 19 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on June 24, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on December 14, 2021, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the defendant entered a deli located at 803 Flatbush Avenue, wearing a mask and armed with a firearm. He went behind the counter and pointed the firearm at the store clerk, Fadhl Moosa, 20, and demanded money from the cash register.

Furthermore, the District Attorney said, a physical struggle ensued between the defendant and the clerk and ended with the defendant shooting the victim in the head. The defendant left the store, then realized he forgot to take the money. He returned to the store, stepped over the dying victim’s body, and retrieved the money from the cash register.

The defendant fled the scene and was apprehended in Newark, New Jersey on December 20, 2021.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Fourteen Alleged 59 Brims/Bloodhound Brims Gang Members Charged in
Conspiracy Indictment for Murder and Shootings in South Brooklyn

Violence Terrorized Communities in Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island;
Thirteen Charged with Attempted Murder; Two Charged with Shooting Death of a Rival

[Note: materials shown at the press conference are available here]

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, today announced that 14 alleged members of the 59 Brims/Bloodhound Brims street gang were variously charged in an indictment with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, weapons possession, and related charges. In addition to the murder of a rival gang member, the defendants are variously charged in connection with 19 shooting incidents that left nine people injured – including four innocent bystanders.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “”Gun violence hit a record low last year because of strategic enforcement and gang takedowns like today’s, which removed 14 alleged shooters responsible for a staggering level of violence in Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay. These defendants allegedly carried out 19 separate shootings, murdered a rival, and wounded innocent bystanders—lawlessly endangering our communities. We’ve shown that smart, focused enforcement works, and we will continue taking bold action to keep violent criminals off our streets and protect our neighborhoods. I commend our prosecutors and the NYPD for their tireless work in bringing this case forward.”

NYPD Commissioner Tisch said, “Today’s takedown highlights the NYPD’s relentless fight against dangerous street gangs that terrorize our neighborhoods with gun violence. Thanks to the NYPD’s joint efforts with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, we removed 18 illegal firearms from the hands of criminals, including repeat, violent offenders who had no business being back out on the streets in Brooklyn.”

The defendants are being arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justices Danny Chun and Craig Walker on a 129-count indictment in which they are variously charged with second-degree murder, second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and related counts. [See defendant addendum]

The District Attorney said the indictment is the result of a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division into violence committed by members and associates of the 59 Brims and Bloodhound Brims street gangs, two sets of affiliated Bloods based primarily in Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island. The investigation centered on a series of violent incidents, including a homicide and numerous non-fatal shootings in the 61st, 60th, 67th, 73rd, and 69th Precincts beginning in February 2021.

Rival gangs to the defendants include Folk Nation, FNO, WOOO, and GWAY, a subset of the Gorilla Stone Bloods, according to the investigation. While the rivalry between the defendants’ gangs and Folk has been longstanding, it intensified after the April 29, 2021 homicide of Bloodhound Brim member Davonte Lewis, a.k.a. Dior, outside his high school in Midwood, and has grown into a years-long war.

It is alleged that the 59 Brims/Bloodhound Brims defendants signaled their intent to murder opposition gang members through music videos, recorded jail conversations, cellphone evidence, and Facebook and Instagram posts. Text messages among the defendants allegedly indicates their intent to not just intimidate their rivals but to murder or seriously wound them. One such text message conversation following a May 29, 2022 shooting that resulted in no injuries criticized the shooters for failing to place the intended victims in “critical condition” like they were supposed to.

On May 2, 2021, three days after the homicide of Davonte Lewis, defendant Karon Evans and others allegedly went into rival Folk territory in the vicinity of 3405 Foster Avenue in the 67th Precinct and Evans allegedly shot a rival Folk gang member multiple times in the stomach. The victim survived and suffered a lacerated liver.

It is alleged that 59 Brims/Bloodhound Brims members committed numerous additional shootings during the course of the conspiracy, including the following:

• On February 8, 2022, at approximately 3:10 p.m., defendant Omogoriola Omotosho and another individual, followed a rival gang member to 2926 West 25th Street, an alleged G-WAY home base in Coney Island, and allegedly started firing handguns at the rival on the street and into the lobby which was filled with residents of all ages. No one was injured but several people had to duck to avoid the gunshots. This building, which is located in the middle of Brims territory, has been the site of three separate shootings charged in the indictment.

• On May 29, 2022, at approximately 7:45 p.m., defendant Favorite, an associate, and two unidentified individuals shot at the direction of multiple people congregating around a vehicle at the intersection of West 25th Street and Mermaid Avenue. One of the intended targets returned fire, before running into the building at 2926 West 25th Street, the alleged homebase of G-WAY. No one was injured, but several pedestrians, including a family with a young child, had to duck for cover and narrowly avoided being hit by the crossfire.

• On October 9, 2022, at approximately 7:17 p.m., in front of 2957 Avenue W, the Sheepshead Bay Houses, defendants Ware and an accomplice (who has already pleaded guilty) allegedly fired multiple rounds at a perceived rival, striking him in the arm.

• On October 31, 2022, at approximately 5:10 p.m., in front of 2932 Avenue V, the Nostrand Houses, defendants Ware and Ron Thomas allegedly shot and killed Jamel Nicholson, a Folk gang member and prominent drill rapper, and shot and injured his girlfriend, who suffered gunshot wounds to the thigh and lower abdomen. She remained in critical condition for weeks.

• On June 23, 2023, at approximately 4:00 p.m., defendant Omotosho traveled to a sneaker store located at 9413 Fifth Avenue in Bay Ridge for a release of new sneakers. He and other Brims members then spotted a rival Folk gang member inside the store. After watching the rival exit the store at 4:10 p.m., and enter a parked car, Omotosho opened fire with a handgun into the vehicle. The rival gang member was not struck, but two innocent bystanders each suffered gunshot wounds. One was inside the car and the other was waiting in line to buy sneakers.

The investigation was conducted by New York City Police Department’s Gun Violence Suppression Division Detectives Tomas Krohn and Patrick Craig under the supervision of Assistant Chief Jason Savino, Deputy Inspector Craig Edelman, Lieutenant Christopher Siani and Sergeant James Haley. The investigation was also conducted by members of Brooklyn South Homicide Squad, the 60th Precinct Squad, the 61st Precinct Squad and Detective Investigators from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Stern, Senior Assistant District Attorney Radiyah Dobre, and Assistant District Attorney Douglas Steinberg, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, Deputy Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, First Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred De Ingeniis, Bureau Chief.

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An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

DEFENDANT ADDENDUM:

1. Davonte Manson, 23, of Brooklyn
2. Karon Evans, 21, of Brooklyn
3. Timothy Briggs, 22, of Brooklyn
4. Antoine Favorite, 20, of Brooklyn
5. Jaquell Scales, 21, of Brooklyn
6. Omogoriola Omotosho, 21, of Brooklyn
7. Omarion Harvey, 21, of Brooklyn
8. Logan Cadore, 20, of Brooklyn
9. Jordan Thomas, 30, of Brooklyn
10. Jermel Solise, 18, of Brooklyn
11. Tashawn Ware, 19, of Brooklyn
12. Ron Thomas, 22, of Brooklyn
13. Rashiem Brown, 16, of Brooklyn
14. Albiero Garcia, 15, of Brooklyn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Fugitive Arraigned for 2017 Murder of Visiting College Student

Allegedly Shot Victim During Fight that Followed Earlier Confrontation;
Defendant’s Brother and Co-defendant Was Arrested in Texas in 2019

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man who was a fugitive from justice since 2017 has been arraigned on an indictment charging him with murder after getting arrested in Albany, NY. The defendant is charged – along with his brother – with allegedly shooting 20-year-old Justin Hackley to death in when he tried to stop a fight the defendants initiated with his friend.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This case involved the tragic death of an innocent young man with a promising future who was senselessly killed on a Brooklyn street. His relatives have been waiting for justice as his alleged killers spent years trying to evade capture. We are determined to now hold them responsible for the deadly gun violence they allegedly perpetrated. As shootings in Brooklyn reach record lows, my office will continue to ensure accountability and justice in every case.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Dean Boland, 35, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Susan Quirk on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The defendant was ordered held without bail and to return to court on February 3, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The defendant was arrested this morning in Albany by U.S. Marshals.

The defendant’s brother and co-defendant, Rasheed Boland, 32, was arrested in Texas in 2019 after living there under an assumed name. His case is pending. Both defendants were indicted in 2017, approximately two months after the homicide.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 11, 2017, Rasheed Boland was hitting on a woman, sparking a fight with her boyfriend, with a friend of the boyfriend intervening to stop it. Rasheed Boland allegedly went home, got his brother and the two of them returned to the area, each of them armed with a gun, and they started to look for the men they had fought.

At about 11:35 p.m., Hackley – who was visiting home while on a break from summer school at Delaware State University – stepped out of an Ocean Avenue building near Church Avenue, with his friend, who was the person who intervened in the earlier fight. The two brothers then allegedly crossed the street and started to pistol whip the friend. Hackley started to struggle with Rasheed Boland and was shot twice, according to the evidence. Dean Boland was disarmed by the victim’s friend and another man. Both defendants fled.

The victim was pronounced dead from gunshots at Kings County Hospital Center. Surveillance videos and DNA evidence connected the defendants to the crime, and their photos were distributed to the media. They were also featured on a number of TV shows as part of the efforts to capture them.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daphney Gachette, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison
for Fatally Shooting 15-Year-Old Near NYCHA Playground

Defendant Fired into a Crowd of People at the Bushwick Houses

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy at the Bushwick Houses in 2018. A 43-year-old man was also wounded by the defendant when he opened fire on a playground and into a crowded courtyard where children were present.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a despicable act of gun violence that took the life of an innocent teenage boy and left an entire family and community traumatized. Senseless shootings like this tear at the fabric of our neighborhoods, leaving lasting pain and fear. Everyone deserves to feel secure in their community, and we will continue to hold accountable those who threaten innocent lives with such brazen and callous violence.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Elijah Harris, 25, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree assault, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on October 3, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 17, 2018, at approximately 2:40 p.m., the defendant was riding a bike on the sidewalk, near 370 and 390 Bushwick Avenue, when he took out a handgun. The defendant then fired at least nine times on a playground and into a courtyard of the Bushwick Houses where a crowd of over 15 people were gathered, including children. The defendant’s gunfire struck Kyon Jackson, 15, in the chest; another shot struck a 43-year-old man in the cheek.

Jackson, a ninth grader at Lyons Community School, was rushed to Woodhull Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The defendant was arrested shortly thereafter by police and the handgun was recovered.

The District Attorney thanked Intelligence Analyst Lakeisha Taylor for her assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph Tillman, of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Man Arraigned for Fatally Torching Woman Sleeping Inside Subway Car

Used Shirt to Fan Flames; Caught on Video Surveillance

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a homeless man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with first-degree murder and related counts for allegedly setting a woman, identified as Debrina Kawam, on fire as she slept inside a subway car in Coney Island, Brooklyn, then fanning the flames with a shirt and watching her die.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It is difficult to fathom what could lead someone to commit the atrocious and horrific murder with which this defendant is charged. My office swiftly obtained an indictment, and we are determined to exact the most severe punishment for this heinous and inhumane act. Ms. Kawam and her loved ones deserve a measure of justice and New Yorkers deserve to feel safe in the subways.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who resided in an East New York shelter. The defendant was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and first-degree arson. The defendant was held without bail and ordered to return to court on March 12, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on December 22, 2024, at about 7:25 a.m., the victim was sleeping inside an F train that had reached its terminus at the Stillwell Avenue Station in Coney Island. Video surveillance showed the defendant, who rode the same car as the victim from Queens, use what appears to be a lighter to set fire to fabric that covered the sleeping woman.

The evidence further shows the defendant first watched from inside the car as the fire grew then used what looks like a shirt to fan it until the victim became engulfed in flames. He was then seen watching the blaze from a bench on the platform before walking away.

Police quickly identified the defendant and distributed his image to the media. Police received a tip that he was aboard an F train near the Herald Square-34th Street Station, and he was apprehended a little before 4 p.m. the same day.

The victim was declared dead at the scene and the medical examiner determined the cause of death to be a combination of heat burns and smoke inhalation. She was burned beyond recognition and was identified as Ms. Kawam, originally of Toms River, New Jersey, nine days after the incident.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Perry, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.