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.<\/p>\n
Pierre was shot and killed on Thursday, April 16 in Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Davis is a reputed member of the BG4 gang and detectives believe the shooting stemmed from previous fights between him and Pierre<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Police say the two came together at a water and gel gun fight organized by Pierre and promoted on social media.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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