Yonkers 15-Year-Old Indicted In Shooting That Killed 1, Injured 4 Teens

YONKERS, NY — A school-age Westchester teen is facing murder charges in connection to this summer's deadly shooting on a city street.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a 15-year-old Yonkers resident was indicted in connection to the August shooting in Yonkers that killed 20-year-old Brandon Garcia, of Yonkers, and injured four teenagers.

The juvenile offender was arraigned on Tuesday in Youth Part after being indicted by a Westchester County grand jury for felony second-degree murder; four felony counts of second-degree attempted murder; four felony counts of second-degree assault; felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and felony first-degree reckless endangerment.

The teen pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail at a local youth detention facility, with a scheduled court date on December. 11.

"This case is another tragic and deeply troubling example of a young person allegedly possessing a gun and causing irreparable harm in our own backyard," Cacace said. "The defendant’s alleged deliberate actions claimed one life, left four teenagers wounded, and forever changed countless lives. I commend the Yonkers Police Department for their swift response and courage, which undoubtedly prevented further tragedy. Gun violence has no place in Westchester County, and we will hold accountable those who callously open fire, take lives, and endanger our communities, regardless of their age."

On Aug. 2, around 8:43 p.m., the teen fired around eight shots from a 9mm Taurus semi-automatic handgun toward a group gathered near Palisade Ave. and Elm St., striking five people, including Garcia and four teenagers, before fleeing the area on foot, according to police.

A Yonkers Police Department captain who heard the shots raced to the scene and pursued the teen while coordinating the response of additional officers. The teen was taken into custody about a block from the scene on St. Casimir Avenue.

Garcia received a gunshot wound to the back and was treated at the scene before being taken to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.

The four teenage victims were treated for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Yonkers police recovered a firearm, ballistic evidence, surveillance footage, and other evidence from the scene, investigators said.

"This was a senseless act of gun violence that took the life of a young man and left four other teenagers wounded," Yonkers Police Department Commissioner Christopher Sapienza said. "From the moment the first call came in, our Officers and Detectives worked relentlessly to identify the person responsible and build the strongest possible case. This indictment is the result of that work and our continued partnership with the Westchester County District Attorney's Office. We will continue to use every resource available to us to hold accountable those who bring illegal guns and violence into our communities."