A suspect has been arrested for the 2024 Queens shooting death of a 26-year-old new dad, police said Tuesday.
Odane Francis, 29, was arrested Monday for allegedly gunning down Kimani Cyrus in Springfield Gardens.
“Oh my god, I got to sit down,” Cyrus’ mother, Kimeka Fletcher, told the Daily News after learning of the arrest. “Thank you, Jesus! Thank you! Thank you!”
“I’m so shocked right now,” she added. “I thank God that justice came finally. We’ve been praying that we get justice … I’m so overwhelmed.”
On the night of his death, Cyrus told relatives he was going to the McDonald’s down the block from where he was killed to see a friend, his mother said. He never returned home.
Cyrus was shot multiple times all over his body on 222nd St. near 145th Ave. about 11:40 p.m. Dec. 3, 2024, cops say. Medics rushed him to Jamaica Hospital, where he died.
During Francis’ arraignment in Queens Criminal Court Tuesday, prosecutors said the suspect inserted himself into a beef between his cousin and the victim.
Francis and his cousin “scoured many many blocks and ultimately they did find (the victim) driving his vehicle down the street,” Assistant District Attorney Joanna Matuza said in court. “There’s video surveillance of this defendant extending his arm out and seemingly firing one shot and at that point missing.”
Cyrus continued driving down the street but Francis eventually caught up with him, prosecutors said.
“At some point the defendant does come into contact with the victim. where he fires multiple shots at him, three of them striking his body and ultimately causing his death,” Matuza said.
Kimani Cyrus was found repeatedly shot in the middle of the street on 222nd St. near 145th Ave. at about 11:40 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2024. (Google)
Francis lives about a block and a half from where Cyrus was shot, cops said. His arraignment in Queens Criminal Court was pending Tuesday.
The suspect has a criminal record stretching back to 2015, police sources said, including two busts for possession of a loaded firearm.
The victim lived in St. Albans, according to cops. “He was my only child,” Fletcher said.
The funeral program for Kimani Cyrus, who was fatally shot on Dec. 3, 2024. (Courtesy of Family)
Cyrus was married and had a baby daughter who is now about 3, she said.
“He was always smiling, always happy,” Fletcher said of her son. “He was working at Amazon. He was really a good guy. Very caring.”
An NYPD warrants squad took Francis into custody in Jamaica, Queens, and brought him to the 105th Precinct stationhouse where he was charged with murder and weapon possession.
He was ordered held without bail during his arraignment and is due back in court June 15.