13-Year-Old Student Fatally Shot While Walking to School in Queens
Teen shot while walking to school in Cambria Heights
A 13-year-old boy, Sanjay Samuel, died on Wednesday after being shot in the head while walking to school in Cambria Heights, Queens, New York City, New York, United States.
Police said the shooting occurred on Monday morning, just after 8 a.m., outside a Dunkin’ in a strip mall on Linden Boulevard. Sanjay had recently begun ninth grade and was with a group of boys when a 16-year-old suspect approached on a scooter and confronted them.
Altercation Turned Deadly
According to authorities, the suspect pulled out a gun, causing the group to scatter. Sanjay and the suspect then exchanged punches before the teenager shot Sanjay once in the back of the head. The suspect fled the scene on his scooter.
Witnesses reported hearing commotion before finding Sanjay lying in the parking lot. Police and emergency medical responders quickly arrived and transported him to Cohen Children’s Medical Center.
Critical Injuries and Death
Doctors discovered severe brain swelling and extensive tissue damage. Sanjay was placed on life support, but tests conducted on Tuesday showed he had no brain activity. On Wednesday afternoon, after two days in critical condition, he was pronounced dead.
Police Investigation
Police Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the incident appeared to be gang-related, citing an analysis of social media posts. However, Sanjay was not listed in the police gang database and had no prior criminal record. The 16-year-old suspect, described as a troublemaker in the area, remains at large.
Family’s Grief
Sanjay’s father, Theophilus Samuel, rushed from his job at Zucker Hillside Hospital to the emergency room after learning of the shooting. Relatives kept vigil by Sanjay’s bedside until his death. His half-brother, Steffon Gordon, remembered him as a boy who loved fishing, basketball, and reggae music.
The shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents involving teenagers in New York City this year.