FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2005

D.A. BROWN: RICHMOND HILL MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN SHOOTING DEATH OF 27-YEAR-OLD MAN;
Faces 25 Years to Life in Prison

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today that a Richmond Hill resident has been charged in the shooting death of a 27-year-old man in Queens last month.

District Attorney Brown said, “According to the charges, the defendant fired several shots at the victim while riding in a jeep with friends last month. The crime is a shocking example of mindless gun-related violence that takes innocent lives and recklessly endangers public safety.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Devendra Singh, 26, of 104-22 108th Street, Richmond Hill, Queens, who has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon the Second and Third Degrees and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

District Attorney Brown said that, according to the charges, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on November 19, 2005, the defendant fired approximately 6 - 8 shots from a .25 caliber handgun in the direction of the victim, Ryan Varma, 27, with one bullet striking him in the back, fatally wounding him.

The defendant is being held pending arraignment in Queens Criminal Court.

Assistant District Attorney Travis W. Hunter of the District Attorney’s Homicide Investigations Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Peter T. Reese, Bureau Chief, and Peter J. McCormack, Deputy Chief and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Charles A. Testagrossa and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney Daniel A. Saunders.

It should be noted that criminal charges are merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.