Teen gunman arrested for Queens murder of 13-year-old boy faces life in prison

A 16-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting a 13-year-old outside a Dunkin’ Donuts in Queens is being held without bail as he faces murder and weapons charges.

The suspect, Jaysohn Sykes, was denied bail by a Queens judge on Saturday on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Police say Sykes shot 13-year-old Sanjay Samuel in the head last week outside the shop in Springfield Gardens, according to the New York Post.

Samuel, a student at Martin Van Buren High School, was struck in the head after the teenage gunman fired a gun while riding a scooter. According to New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, the murder is believed to have been gang-related and occurred during a group fight. After being shot, Samuel was rushed to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. He was placed on life support but died of his injuries on Wednesday.

Sykes, a student at Campus Magnet High School in Cambria Heights, turned himself in to police at the NYPD’s 105th Precinct in Queens Village. He was arraigned the following day. His next court date is set for September 29. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The shooting is part of a continuing trend in New York City of gun violence carried out by teenagers. Last year, police recorded 40 shootings involving minors. A previous New York Post report found the number of teen shooters in the city has surged 114 percent since 2018.