Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Keyondre Russell, 18, has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly shooting and killing a 15-year-old following a dispute on an A train in Far Rockaway.

District Attorney Katz said, “Just tragic. At a bare minimum, we in New York City have a right to use our subways and have the ability to get home safely to our families. The defendant will be held accountable and has been charged with murder.”

Russell, of McBride Street, Far Rockaway, Queens, arraigned today before Queens Criminal Court Judge Denise Johnson on a complaint charging him with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Judge Johnson ordered the defendant to return to Court on October 19, 2022. If convicted, Russell faces up to 25 years-to-life in prison.

According to the charges, based on recovered video surveillance and statements made by the defendant. on Friday, the defendant shot the victim, Jayjohn Burnett, 15, inside an A train subway car. The victim was found by police at approximately 3:47 p.m., lying on the subway platform on Beach 32^nd Street and Mott Avenue with what appeared to be one gunshot wound to the chest.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Douglas Sheeler of the New York Police Department’s 101^st Detective Squad.

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