Press Release
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN SHOOTING IN SOUTH RICHMOND HILL
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Shawn Singh was arraigned today on murder and weapon possession charges for a shooting that killed 31-year-old Treva Sookmangal in South Richmond Hill on September 2.
District Attorney Katz said: “Altercations escalating to gun violence cannot become the norm. We will not allow it in this borough. Those who use guns to solve disputes will be held accountable.”
Singh, 23, of Sumner Ave, Schenectady, was arraigned on a six-count indictment charging him with murder in the second degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and three counts of menacing in the second degree. Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant ordered him to return to court on October 31. If convicted, Singh faces 25 years to life in prison.
According to the charges:
- Video surveillance showed Singh and Sookmangal arguing at around 4 a.m. in the vicinity of 125-06 101st Singh can be seen pointing a gun at multiple people who were present. The verbal dispute continued for several minutes.
- At about 4:17 a.m., Singh punched Sookmangal in the face, took another swing and moments later pointed the gun in his direction and fired it.
- Sookmangal sustained a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
- Singh and a companion fled. He was arrested the following day at approximately 2:30 a.m. in the Bronx.
- Police recovered a shell casing along with one live round on the sidewalk near the shooting.
The investigation was conducted by Detective Kerrianne Dolan of the 102nd Precinct Detective Squad under the supervision of Sergeant Christopher Esposito.
Assistant District Attorney Nicole Rella of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Jaggnoor Lali and under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, Peter J. McCormack III, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Marilyn Filingeri, Supervisor, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.
**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.