The streets of Brooklyn witnessed a grim settle of scores back in April 2021, when gunfire erupted outside an Urban Dove Charter School in Midwood, taking the life of 17-year-old Devonte Lewis. Now, as reported by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, three gang members involved in the tragedy have received their sentences. Quran Smith, 20, will face 15 years to life while Malachi Simms, 19, has been sentenced to 14 years to life, and their accomplice, Frantzy Alexandre, 20, received a 10-year prison term for manslaughter.
Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez underscored the tragic narrative, stating, “These defendants, who were just 15 and 16 years old at the time, laid in wait and opened fire at their target outside a school—killing him and ruining their own entire futures. We vigorously prosecute and hold responsible gang members who engage in gun violence, which is part of the reason Brooklyn is experiencing a dramatic reduction in shootings. My thoughts today are with Devonte Lewis’s heartbroken mother and loved ones,” as noted by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
The investigation revealed that Simms and Smith, both armed, lay in wait for Lewis, an alleged member of the rival gang, before firing the fatal shots, with Alexandre having facilitated the possession of the firearms used in this attack. Surveillance footage captured the calculated ambush, showing the gunmen firing at Lewis even after he fell to the ground and then attempting to commandeer his vehicle before fleeing on foot. In a tragic turn, Lewis had just started school at Urban Dove and begun a part-time job with the New York City Housing Authority.
Gunfire erupted on East 21st Street, fatally striking Lewis. During Smith’s arrest, a .380 Taurus Spectrum pistol fell from his waistband—matching shell casings recovered at the scene. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, Deputy Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, with support from a team of VCE staff.
