A Brooklyn teenager has been indicted on second-degree murder charges following the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Kevin Hernandez. The 16-year-old from Flushing Avenue, unnamed due to his age, is facing a litany of charges including two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence in relation to the April 22 incident, the Queens District Attorney's Office reported.
District Attorney Katz characterized the shooting as a senseless act of gun violence committed by a teenager who should not have had access to a firearm. Hernandez was reportedly shot in the chest just minutes from his home, leading to his untimely death. The teenage defendant is also charged with robbery, assault, and grand larceny in an unrelated incident that occurred the night before the shooting, adding complexity to the case.
As detailed by the charges, Hernandez was navigating a moped on George Street in Ridgewood when the confrontation occurred. Upon making a U-turn, he stopped his moped across from Joseph F. Quinn Intermediate School 77, where the defendant and another individual allegedly approached and fired shots, fatally striking Hernandez. The victim later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. In the wake of the violence, two 9 mm shell casings were discovered at the scene.
Following the indictment, the court proceedings are set to continue with the defendant, whose identity remains withheld, scheduled to return to court on June 6. Should the teen be convicted, he faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric Weinstein, working with Assistant District Attorneys Alexa Ornelas, and Caitlyn Muldoon. The homicide bureau led by John Kosinski, supervised by Karen Ross, with oversight from Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark is handling this charged case.
