A Long Island teen fugitive was extradited from Virginia to face attempted murder charges for shooting a 15-year-old boy on an A train in Ozone Park in April, leaving the victim paralyzed below the waist.
Matthew Rodriguez, 19, of Levittown, was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on June 5 on charges of attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. The victim was in a physical fight with Rodriguez’ 16-year-old co-defendant stemming from an earlier shooting incident when a good Samaritan attempted to break up the two combatants. At that time, Rodriguez pulled out a firearm that was strapped to the co-defendant’s ankle and fired, striking the young victim in his neck and back.
Police from the 106th Precinct in Ozone Park heading up to the 80th Street subway station after Rodriguez shot a teen who was fighting with his 16-year-old co-defendant from Far Rockaway.Photo by Dean Moses
Rodriguez fled the state following the shooting and was apprehended in Virginia on May 21. His co-defendant from Far Rockaway, was indicted by a Queens grand jury and charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned on May 29 before Judge Leigh Cheng who remanded the co-defendant into custody without bail. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
According to the charges and investigation, on April 27, at approximately 6 p.m., Rodriguez and his co-defendant were aboard a Manhattan-bound A train traveling between 105th Street and 80th Street stations when they were approached by the victim as he was moving between subway cars.
The co-defendant engaged in a physical altercation with the victim that is alleged to have stemmed from a February incident in Far Rockaway involving both parties. During the prior incident, the same victim was shot but declined to cooperate with investigators. The co-defendant was charged for the shooting, and that case is currently pending in the Queens Supreme Court’s Youth Part.
The fight lasted approximately six minutes before a good Samaritan attempted to break apart the two teens. During the altercation, Rodriguez removed a firearm from a holster wrapped around the co-defendant’s ankle and fired at the victim multiple times, striking him in the back. Rodriguez then allegedly fired at the victim once more after the victim fell to the ground.
Rodriguez and the co-defendant immediately fled the scene.
EMS rushed the young victim to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he is still undergoing treatment for his injuries and is confined to a hospital bed, unable to walk.
The young victim remains at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, confined to bed and unable to walk.Photo via Citizen
The co-defendant was apprehended on April 29 at his home by members of the NYPD’s warrant’s squad. Rodriguez was apprehended on May 21 in Newport News, Virginia, by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. He was returned to Queens on Thursday, June 4 and booked at the 106th Precinct in Ozone Park.
“As alleged, defendant Rodriguez was under no immediate threat, nor was he directly engaged in the physical altercation when he fired two shots into the victim at point-blank range,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. “A 15-year-old child is now fighting for his life in a hospital bed as a direct result.”
Rodriguez pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before Judge Bruna DiBiase, who remanded the defendant into custody without bail. If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 25 years in prison.
“The epidemic of youth gun violence must end,” Katz said. “My office will use every tool available under the law to hold the alleged shooter and his accomplice responsible for their actions.”