Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a 17-year-old defendant was charged with murder and weapon possession for the broad daylight shooting death of 14-year-old Malakai Adams at the Ocean Bay Apartments on September 21. The defendant allegedly took off after the shooting on the victim’s scooter.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this was a targeted, execution-style killing where the victim was shot through his heart. This defendant shot and killed another teenager in the middle of the afternoon, leaving a family and community heartbroken. Our thoughts are with Malakai Adams’ loved ones and community as we now seek justice for him.”

The 17-year-old of Far Rockaway was arraigned today on a criminal complaint charging him with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Seth Steed remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court on October 19. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on September 21, at approximately 3:33 p.m., Malakai Adams and three others arrived on push scooters to the courtyard of the Ocean Bay Apartments in Edgemere. The defendant approached Malakai and fired two shots.

Malakai fell to the ground and the 17-year-old took the victim’s scooter and fled. He allegedly went into a public bathroom and changed the shirt and pants he was wearing during the shooting. The clothing was later located in the bathroom trash bin.

Malakai was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery for a gunshot that entered his lower back and traveled to his heart. He was later pronounced deceased.

The case was investigated by Detectives Roberto Napoli of the 101^st Precinct and Thomas Cappolla of Queens South Homicide with assistance from Detective Michael McCarthy of the Gun Violence Suppression Division.

Senior Assistant District Attorneys Andres Sanchez and Kevin Timpone of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau are prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Sennett, Bureau Chief, and Barry Frankenstein and Philip Anderson, Deputy Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Joseph T. Conley III.