Tempers flared as furious family members confronted a man accused of shooting and killing a 15-year-old boy at a playground in New York City earlier this month.
On Saturday, police had to intervene when a relative of the victim, Jayden Pierre, reacted angrily as 18-year-old Zahir Davis exited the 113th Precinct on foot.
“Look at my face! I hope they mess with you every day!”
Davis was subsequently taken to Queens Criminal Court, facing charges that include second-degree murder, gang assault, and two counts of weapon possession, according to the police.
His attorney has asserted his innocence, as reported.
The crowd’s anger was palpable as Davis walked out.
- “You’re an idiot!”
- “You’re an idiot!”
- “You’re finished!”
- “How could you do that to my nephew?”
- “Look at me! I wish they’d make your life hell!”
Content warning: Profanity and racial slurs:
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced on that same Saturday that Davis had fled to Jamaica following the incident on April 16.
“NYPD detectives working alongside the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended Zahir Davis for the appalling murder of 15-year-old Jayden Pierre last week in a Queens park,” Tisch stated on X. “Davis escaped to Jamaica after the shooting and was arrested soon after returning to New York last night.”
According to officials, while Pierre was being attacked, Davis allegedly retrieved a handgun from a bag and shot Pierre in the chest.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office mentioned that Davis left for Jamaica the day after the shooting to evade capture, urging his family to ensure he returned home.
Davis is set to appear in court again on Wednesday, and if convicted, he could face 25 years to life in prison.
He is described as a known gang member, and reports indicate that investigators believe the shooting was triggered by an earlier altercation between Davis and Pierre.
Additionally, detectives reviewing cell phone footage suspect that Davis may have attempted to hit Pierre with the pistol before it discharged.
In a poignant statement, Pierre’s sister, 17-year-old Nellie Pierre, expressed her frustration towards those who filmed her brother’s attack, criticizing them for their inaction. She said, “Everyone who recorded did nothing. They treated it like some sort of show. He had already been beaten. He was defenseless, and then they shot him.”
Additionally, it was reported that Davis faced separate charges of aggravated harassment and harassment for allegedly threatening to shoot his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his child, just four days before Pierre’s death.
