Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting a 13-year-old at a Staten Island playground last weekend, police announced Tuesday.
Chief of Detectives James Essig reported that the teenage suspect, not identified, was taken into custody hours after the death of Jamoure Harrell, 13, of Lamport Boulevard in the South Beach Houses, who succumbed to his critical injuries on Monday at Richmond University Medical Center.
Law enforcement sources said Harrell was shot in the head while hanging out with a group of friends at the Reverend Dr. Maggie Howard Playground, located near the corner of Tompkins Avenue and Broad Street in Stapleton, at about 3:54 p.m. on May 19.
Based on information obtained during the investigation, Essig said, the 16-year-old allegedly shot at the group to “send a message” to a rival gang at the park during that time.
The victim was sitting on a bench at the park when he was hit by a shot fired from 95 yards away, police sources said. He was not believed to be the intended target.
Officers from the 120th Precinct and EMS units rushed to the location. Paramedics raced Harrell to Richmond University Medical Center, where he had fought through critical injuries for two days before his death.
WABC-TV reported that it’s not yet known whether the teenager was targeted by the gunman. Harrell was reportedly a student at the nearby Eagle Academy charter school.
This story was updated on May 23 at 3:45 p.m.
