Crime & Safety

Indictment in New Year's Eve Shooting of 13-Year-Old in Mount Vernon

Prosecutors say the gunman was trying to kill a rival gang member who was also in the car.

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Lanning Taliaferro, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

MOUNT VERNON, NY — David Hardy of 269 Franklin Ave., Mount Vernon, was arraigned on an indictment before Judge Barry Warhit on Friday. Hardy is alleged to have caused the New Year's Eve death of 13-year-old Shamoya McKenzie while shooting at someone else.

He faces charges of:

  • one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A-1” Felony,
  • one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class “B” Felony,
  • one count of Assault in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony,
  • one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class ”C” Felony

At about 2:28 p.m. Dec. 31, the victim and her mother were driving eastbound along East Third Street in Mount Vernon when Hardy fired a handgun at a member of a rival gang, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. alleged.

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At the time of the shooting, McKenzie was in the front passenger seat of her mother’s car. Authorities said Hardy was intending to kill Prince Scott, who was sitting in the back seat.

Hardy fired several times. Scott was struck twice. One bullet that smashed through the rear passenger window struck McKenzie in the head.

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McKenzie was taken to Mount Vernon Hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

An intense investigation by the F.B. I., the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Westchester County District Attorney’s office resulted in Hardy's arrest on Jan. 15, 2017.

Hardy, 22, pleaded not guilty. He continues to be held in jail.

If convicted of the charges, he faces up to 25 years to life in state prison. His next court date is May 16, 2017.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Heide Mason and Assistant District Attorney John O’Rourke of the Superior Court Trial Division.

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