Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Matthew Rodriguez was arraigned and remanded today on indictment charges of attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon for shooting a 15-year-old victim aboard a Manhattan-bound A train on April 27. The victim was in a physical fight with Rodriguez’ co-defendant stemming from an earlier shooting incident when a good Samaritan attempted to break up the two. At that time Rodriguez pulled out a firearm that was strapped to the co-defendant’s ankle and fired, striking the young victim in the neck and back.

Rodriguez fled the state and was apprehended in Virginia on May 21, 2026.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, defendant Rodriguez was under no immediate threat, nor was he directly engaged in the physical altercation when he fired two shots into the victim at point-blank range. A 15-year-old child is now fighting for his life in a hospital bed as a direct result. The epidemic of youth gun violence must end. My office will use every tool available under the law to hold the alleged shooter and his accomplice responsible for their actions.”

Rodriguez, 19, of Levittown, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of assault in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He was arraigned today before Judge Bruna DiBiase, who remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court on June 23. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.

Rodriguez’ co-defendant, 16, of Far Rockaway, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He was arraigned on May 29 before Judge Leigh Cheng who remanded the co-defendant and ordered him to return to court on June 12. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on April 27, at approximately 6 p.m., Rodriguez and his co-defendant were aboard a Manhattan-bound A train traveling between 105th Street and 80th Street stations when they were approached by the victim as he was moving between subway cars.

The co-defendant engaged in a physical altercation with the victim that is alleged to have stemmed from a February incident in Far Rockaway involving both parties. During the prior incident, the same victim was shot but declined to cooperate with investigators. The co-defendant was charged for the shooting, and that case is currently pending in the Queens Supreme Court’s Youth Part.

The fight lasted approximately six minutes before a good Samaritan attempted to break apart the two teens. During the altercation, Rodriguez removed a firearm from a holster wrapped around the co-defendant’s ankle and fired at the victim multiple times, striking him in the back. Rodriguez then allegedly fired at the victim once more after the victim fell to the ground.

Rodriguez and the co-defendant immediately fled the scene.

The young victim was transported to a local hospital where he is still undergoing treatment for his injuries and is confined to a hospital bed, unable to walk.

The co-defendant was apprehended on April 29 at his home by members of the NYPD’s warrant’s squad.  Rodriguez was apprehended on May 21 in Newport News, Virginia, by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. He was returned to New York last night.

The investigation was conducted by members of the 103^rd Precinct Detective Squad, as well as members of the Queens Felony Warrant’s Squad.

The District Attorney’s Extraditions Unit, led by Section Chief Timothy McGrath, played a crucial role in securing the defendant’s return.

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