15-year-old charged after Yonkers shooting killed one and wounded four

Yonkers police announced August 4 that a 15-year-old Yonkers resident had been charged in connection with a shooting near Elm Street and Palisade Avenue that killed one person and wounded four teenagers.

The shooting occurred at approximately 8:43 p.m. Sunday, August 2, according to the Yonkers Police Department. Police said the suspect fired eight rounds from a handgun across the intersection toward a group of people before fleeing on foot.

Brandon Garcia killed; four teenagers wounded

Five people were struck, police said. Brandon Garcia, 20, suffered a gunshot wound to the back, was taken to a hospital and later died. The police release identified him as a Yonkers resident.

The four surviving victims were identified by police only by age and gender: a 16-year-old male shot in the left shoulder, a 15-year-old male shot in the left thigh, a 15-year-old male shot in the stomach and a 14-year-old female shot in the left leg.

Police said all four were in critical but stable condition after being taken to area hospitals and were expected to recover. The department said it would release no further information about the surviving victims.

Suspect detained minutes after shooting

Officers took the suspect into custody within minutes, approximately one block from the scene on St. Casimir Avenue, according to police. Investigators said they recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting, ballistic evidence, surveillance video and other items of evidentiary value.

Police characterized the incident as a targeted act of group violence rather than a random attack. Investigators alleged that the suspect approached the intersection on foot, fired toward the group and fled eastbound on Elm Street. Those statements describe the police investigation and are not court findings.

Charges and court status

The suspect faces charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment.

The suspect was arraigned during the afternoon of August 3 in the Youth Part of Westchester County Court and remanded into custody, the police department said. News 12 reported that the suspect is expected to return to court Friday, August 7. The official police release described the next appearance only as occurring later in the week.

New York law prohibits the release of identifying information about juvenile offenders, so this article does not identify the suspect or include protected identifying details. The charges are allegations, not convictions, and the criminal case remains pending.

Family mourns Garcia

News 12 reported that Garcia’s loved ones were mourning his death and calling for action to remove illegal guns from the streets. Family members told the station that Garcia was an innocent bystander who was in the area at the time of the shooting.

The investigation and court proceedings remain ongoing. The next court appearance is expected later this week, with News 12 reporting Friday as the anticipated date.

Sources

• Yonkers Police Department release on the shooting and charges
• News 12 report on the charges and court appearance