Press Release
SECOND TEEN APPREHENDED, INDICTED ON GANG ASSAULT CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH FATAL STABBING AT SUNNYSIDE MCDONALD’S RESTAURANT
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a 17-year-old has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of gang assault in the first degree and other crimes in connection with the stabbing death of 14-year-old Julian Corniell at a McDonald’s in Sunnyside on February 14. The fight stemmed from a prior dispute between two groups of teens. The 16-year-old co-defendant allegedly responsible for the murder was arraigned on indictment charges of murder and other crimes earlier this month.
District Attorney Katz said: “Julian Corniell, who was just 14, was brutally assaulted in broad daylight by at least two attackers who are teens themselves. Tragically, he died from his injuries shortly afterward at a local hospital. This 17-year-old defendant is now facing indictment charges of gang assault while another is facing murder charges. Both remain in custody as we seek justice in this case.”
The 17-year-old defendant, of the Bronx, was arraigned yesterday on a grand jury indictment charging him with gang assault in the first degree, gang assault in the second degree and assault in the second degree.
Justice Karen Gopee remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court March 31. If convicted of the top count, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
According to the charges, on February 14, at approximately 3:25 p.m., teenagers who attend different high schools gathered at the McDonald’s restaurant located at 38-02 Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside.
A fight broke out between two rival groups of teens and was captured on video surveillance. In the melee, the 17-year-old defendant is alleged to have joined the group assaulting Julian by hitting the victim and others with a cane. Julian was then stabbed in the torso by the 16-year-old co-defendant.
Julian fled the McDonald’s and crossed Queens Boulevard. He collapsed on the street and was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Brewer, Homicide Assistant in 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, Deputy Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard Brave and Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.