Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Tariek Sykes, 34, has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly shooting his female friend in broad daylight on the street in Richmond Hill. The August 1, 2022 shooting took place following a verbal dispute between the defendant and the victim.

District Attorney Katz said, “Gun violence is an epidemic that has taken the lives of too many of our young people. As alleged, the defendant senselessly shot the victim over an argument, killing her. Violence is never the answer. The defendant is now in custody and faces justice in our courts.”

Sykes, who has no known address, was arraigned today before Queens Criminal Court Judge Diego Freire 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 Freire ordered the defendant to return to Court on August 5, 2022. If convicted, Sykes faces up to 25 years-to-life in prison.

According to the charges, on Monday, August 1, 2022, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the defendant was involved in an argument with the victim, Sydney Lugo, 24, in front of 119-11 109^th Avenue.  The defendant then allegedly fired one time at Ms. Lugo, striking her in the arm and chest, fatally wounding her.

Continuing, said DA Katz, officers responding to the scene recovered a 9mm pistol loaded with one round of ammunition in the chamber and a magazine loaded with two rounds of ammunition.  Also recovered from in front of the location was one shell casing.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Peter Ferrizz of the NYPD’s 106^th Detective Squad of the New York Police Department.

Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Zawistowski with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Jaggnoor Lali of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau are 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.