Press Release

BROOKLYN RESIDENT INDICTED ON MURDER CHARGES FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING MAN AFTER FOOT CHASE

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rayshawn Cherry, 27, has been indicted by a grand jury and arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on murder charges. The defendant allegedly shot a man to death in St. Albans, Queens, on June 11, 2021.

District Attorney Katz said, “As alleged, this defendant used a firearm to exact his own version of revenge and now a life has been needlessly lost. Using a weapon cannot be the new norm for resolving grievances or disputes.”

Cherry, of Grove Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn, was arraigned today before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant on a three-count indictment. The defendant is charged with murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Justice Pandit-Durant remanded the defendant and set his return date for August 10, 2021. Cherry faces up to 25 years-to-life in prison if convicted.

According to the charges, at approximately 10:45 p.m. on June 11th, Cherry followed the victim Wayne Joseph moments after the man exited a basement apartment on Quencer Road where the defendant’s girlfriend resides. The defendant approached the victim and then proceeded to chase the 29-year-old man around parked vehicles and past several homes while allegedly holding a firearm. Moments later, the defendant allegedly shot the victim in his torso and leg.

Mr. Joseph was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died the following day.

The investigation was conducted by Detectives Patrick Nozdrovicky and Timothy Rizzo of the New York City Police Department’s 113th Precinct Detective Squad.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Courtney Finnerty, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter J. McCormack III, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, John Kosinski and Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chiefs and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.

**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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