(Video download here)
On Thursday, June 10, 2021, at approximately 4:15 PM, members of the Yonkers Police Department responded to the area of Elm Street at Oak Street on a report of a shooting incident with multiple victims. Upon arrival officers located three gunshot victims, the most serious of which having been struck in the chest. First Responders rendered medical aid to the victims and they were transported to local area hospitals. Two additional gunshot victims had self-transported to a local area hospital prior to police arrival; all are expected to survive. Police Officers cordoned-off the area and initiated a criminal investigation.
Officers on scene immediately began to develop information that this was a drive-by shooting incident, and within a short period of time identified a suspect vehicle and notified surrounding jurisdictions. Utilizing advanced law enforcement resources including License Plate Readers and partnerships with local, County, and Federal agencies, that vehicle was located in the City of Mount Vernon. Thereat investigators with the Yonkers Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, and agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force located and apprehended four suspects after a foot pursuit and recovered an illegal handgun – a Springfield Armory XD 9mm semi-automatic pistol believed to be the weapon used in the shooting incident.
At the same time, Detectives from the Major Case Squad, Crime Scene Unit, Gang and Narcotics Unit, and Digital Forensics Unit responded to the shooting scene. Investigators interviewed subjects and witnesses, recovered surveillance video, and processed forensic and ballistic evidence. Investigation thus far has yielded that just before the shooting there were approximately ten people socializing on the sidewalk and in the street just west of the convenience store at 150 Elm Street. An older model gray Toyota Camry advanced towards the group traveling east on Elm Street. As the vehicle began passing the group, an assailant leaned out the rear passenger window and fired a handgun multiple times in the direction of the group, striking multiple victims directly and indirectly with shrapnel. The vehicle then fled the scene. Investigators believe that at least ten shots were fired; 9mm spent cartridge casings were recovered at scene. Investigators further believe that the motivation for this incident is related to gang activity, and that the shooter was targeting possible rivals in the group; the investigation into this matter is active and on-going.
Four victims sustained gunshot injuries; the fifth victim, upon examination, was determined not to have bullet-to-body contact. The first victim is a 28-year-old female Yonkers resident with a gunshot injury to her chest; she was taken to a local area trauma center and is listed in critical but stable condition. The second victim is a 31-year-old male Yonkers resident with a gunshot injury to his leg; he was taken to a local area medical center and is listed in stable condition. The third victim is a 24-year-old male Yonkers resident with a gunshot injury to his ankle; he was listed in stable condition at a local area hospital. And the fourth victim is a 23-year-old male Yonkers resident with a gunshot injury to his right leg; he was taken to a local area trauma center and is listed in stable condition.
Investigators have been working continuously for the past 36 hours to develop information and evidence sufficient to bring criminal charges against the perpetrators. Three of the four suspects have been arrested and are in the process of being charged at this time: the first involved suspect and alleged shooter is identified as a 17-year-old male resident of Mount Vernon; due to his status as an adolescent offender, no additional pedigree information will be released. The second involved suspect and alleged driver is identified as Andre MCKENZIE, a 21-year-old resident of Greenwich, Connecticut. The third involved suspect is identified as Tyrese WHITE, an 18-year-old resident of Mount Vernon; WHITE is also wanted by the New York City Police Department on a bench warrant for a prior Robbery charge and the Mount Vernon Police Department for a prior Assault charge.
Mayor Mike Spano stated, “The Yonkers Police Department is unmatched. These individuals are now in custody and off our streets thanks to the relentless work of our tireless men and women in blue. Let this be a call to those persons who seek to inflict harm on others in our City. I am directing every resource available to aid us in combatting this war on our community, streets, and on the lives of the hard-working residents of this city. Violence will not prevail.”
Police Commissioner John J. Mueller stated, “My sincere gratitude to the men and women of the Yonkers Police Department and our law enforcement partners for once again apprehending in short order those who would perpetrate violence in our communities. The increase in violence we are seeing locally and regionally, specifically shootings with juvenile triggermen, is a direct result of broken laws that levy no consequences or accountability. The safety of our communities and residents depend on common sense legislation, and our State leaders need to fix what is obviously not working.”
All three defendants are being charged with Attempted Murder 2, a Class A-I Violent Felony in the New York State Penal Law; in addition to Felony Assault and Criminal Possession of a Weapon charges. The juvenile defendant is expected be arraigned in the Youth Part of the Westchester County Superior Court later today, and the adult defendants will be arraigned in Yonkers Criminal Court. The case is being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Additional information may be released as it becomes available.
