Zahir Davis, 18, has been arrested and charged with murder in the shooting death of 15-year-old Jaden Pierre in a park in Queens.
Pierre was shot and killed on Thursday, April 16 in Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans.
“NYPD detectives assigned to the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force have arrested Zahir Davis for the senseless murder of 15-year-old Jaden Pierre in a park in Queens last week. Davis fled to Jamaica following the shooting and was arrested immediately when he landed back in NYC last night,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a social media post.
Davis is a reputed member of the BG4 gang and detectives believe the shooting stemmed from previous fights between him and Pierre
After reviewing cell phone video, detectives believe that Davis may have been attempting to pistol whip Pierre during an ongoing fight, but the gun went off.
Police say the two came together at a water and gel gun fight organized by Pierre and promoted on social media.
Pierre was “mercilessly beaten by a group of teens,” District Attorney Katz alleged: “Zahir Davis pulled out a silver handgun and – without provocation – shot the victim once in the chest, killing him. The defendant then allegedly took a flight to the island of Jamaica to evade responsibility.”
“This senseless act of gun violence will not go unanswered. No parent should ever have to bury their 15-year-old child, and my office will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure justice for Jaden and his loved ones,” Katz added.
Davis has been charged with murder in the second degree, gang assault in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
In a separate complaint, Davis was charged with aggravated harassment in the second degree and harassment in the second degree for allegedly threatening to shoot his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his child, on April 12.
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