Nassau Man Sentenced For Shooting Death Of 12-Year-Old Girl

A Hempstead man was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for the 2015 shooting death of a 12-year-old girl in October 2015.

Jakwan Keller, 22, pleaded guilty on March 2to second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to jail on Friday.

“This defendant’s reckless actions took the life of an innocent 12-year-old who was sitting down with her family when she was fatally struck by a bullet,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “We extend our deepest condolences to Dejah Joyner’s family, whose lives have been forever changed by this horrific tragedy.”

On Oct. 16, 2015 around 5 p.m., Keller was driving outside the Dartmouth Street home of 12-year-old Dejah Joyner and her family, when he fired a single shot at the house. The bullet entered the house and struck Dejah in the head as she was in the living room. She was taken to Winthrop Hospital in Mineola in critical condition and died the next day.

Following an investigation, Keller was arrested on Jan. 10, 2016 in Hempstead by members of the Nassau County Police Department, with assistance from members of the Hempstead Village Police Department.

Photo: Nassau County Police Department