An 18-year-old New York man was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy on a subway train in Queens Friday, the NYPD said.
Keyondre Russell of Queens was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon Saturday, according to police.
He was arraigned Sunday before Judge Denise Johnson of Queens County Criminal Court on a complaint charging him with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, tbe Queens District Attorney’s Office said.
The judge ordered Russell to return to court on Oct. 19, and if convicted, he could face up to 25 years-to-life in prison, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
Jayjon Burnett was shot in the chest aboard a southbound A train between the 25th Street station and the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station, where he was found around 3:45 p.m., police said.
“On board a southbound A train, two groups of young individuals were engaged in a verbal dispute which quickly escalated, resulting in a 15-year-old male being shot in the chest,” NYPD Chief of Transit Jason Wilcox said at a press conference from the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station Friday night. “The injured teen was pulled off the train by a good Samaritan.”
NYPD officers at the station then administered aid, Wilcox said.
Burnett, who was initially listed in critical condition, was pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center after the shooting, according to police.
“By all accounts, this was not random,” NYC Transit President Richard Davey said.
It was not clear if the two groups knew each other prior to the dispute aboard the subway, officials said.
“There was definitely a dispute prior on the train leading to the station that escalated,” Wilcox added.
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