The wounded gunman who allegedly started a Harlem shootout that ended in a beloved grandmother’s death hid his face Thursday afternoon as he was wheeled into court.
Darious Smith, 23, wore a Tyvek suit and sat in a wheelchair as police pushed him to face arraignment at 100 Centre St. on April 24. Refusing to answer for the shootout, Smith tugged his white hood down over his face with one hand while the other was cuffed to the wheelchair. Police sources report that Smith was the powder keg that ignited the deadly shooting.
Police sources say Smith engaged in an argument with another man before allegedly pulling out a gun and opening fire along West 113th Street and Lenox Avenue at around 10:40 p.m. on April 22. While the shots did not connect, his rival returned fire, striking Smith in the left foot.
During the firefight, local business pioneer and a beloved grandmother, 61-year-old Excenia Mette, heard the commotion and left her building to check on her grandson, only to be struck in the head by a stray bullet. She collapsed on the sidewalk.
Officers from the 28th Precinct responded to the shooting. EMS rushed Mette to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Mette was affectionately known in the Harlem community as Momma Zee and owned a eatery Momma Zee’s Food to Plez Deli located at 2061 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
“This is a horrific, horrific incident that took the life of a grandmother,” Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday.
Smith has been charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon. The gunman who fired the fatal bullet remains on the lam.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
