16-Year-Old Charged in Fatal Triangle Deli Shooting: Yonkers PD

YONKERS, NY — A teenager was arrested in connection with a cold-blooded fatal shooting on a Yonkers sidewalk.

The arrest comes nearly a year after the October 27, 2020 shooting on Ashburton Avenue. Police received a call just after 9:35 p.m. about a victim shot inside the deli. Officers located an unresponsive man inside the store with a gunshot wound to the chest. The 27-year-old gunshot victim, identified as Javon Merrill, later died.

Detectives from the Major Case Squad and Crime Scene Unit learned that Merrill was leaving the deli when he was approached by two suspects outside. One of the suspects fired a handgun at Merrill, striking him in the chest. He collapsed and the two suspects fled the area.

Within days, detectives believed they had learned the identity of the suspected shooter. Investigators were also able to get a DNA profile from an article of clothing believed to have been discarded by the suspect.

The suspect was identified as a 15-year-old (at the time of the incident) resident of the City of Dover, Delaware with family ties in Yonkers. Police believe that the suspect was visiting Yonkers at the time of the shooting and may have associations with local street gangs, including the 300 Bloodhound Brims.

Police believe the shooting was the result of an earlier dispute between Merrill and gang members.

Following the months-long investigation, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office presented evidence to the Grand Jury. The teenage suspect was indicted and an arrest warrant was then issued.

Last week, the suspect was apprehended by members of the U.S. Marshals Service in Dover and brought back to the Yonkers. On Monday, the suspect was booked by the Yonkers Police on felony murder charges. Citing his age, the suspect who is being held in a juvenile detention facility was not identified.