Tamani Turner Murder Suspect Was Arrested At Philadelphia Airport

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A Mount Vernon man has been charged with the murder of a Westchester teenager — he was arrested last month after making a failed attempt to flee the country.

A 33-year-old was arraigned on an indictment charging him with the April 2023 murder of 18-year-old Tamani Turner in Mount Vernon, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced today.

"Another young life has been tragically lost because of an alleged merciless act of gun violence," Roach said. "Thanks to the swift action of our law enforcement partners, We can now work to secure justice for Tamani Turner, his family and the Mount Vernon community."

A Westchester County grand jury indicted Akeem Grant for murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon, arson and tampering with physical evidence. Grant was arraigned in Westchester County Court on Thursday, and remanded.

He also has a pending animal abuse case in Mount Vernon City Court.

SEE ALSO:

• Mount Vernon Police Make Arrest In Thursday's Fatal Shooting Of Teen
• Westchester Teenager Shot On The Street Has Died

On April 6, just after 12:30 p.m., Grant, while sitting in his car, was accused of shooting Turner two times in the torso while he was standing on the passenger side of the parked car on Garden Avenue in Mount Vernon. Turner was rushed to Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital and then Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, where he underwent emergency surgery, but ultimately died.

Investigators believe Grant later set fire to his car in the Bronx, in order to destroy evidence.

Grant was arrested at the Philadelphia International Airport while attempting to board a plane to Jamaica on April 7.

The investigation was led by the Mount Vernon Police Department and the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force.