Every day feels like a reminder of loss for Julia Verona, whose 14-year-old son was killed in a stabbing outside a McDonald’s in Queens, attacked by another teen.
The Age Law has shifted the legal landscape for young offenders in New York, raising the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18. This change means that more violent cases are now handled in family courts, where sentences tend to be lighter than those faced by adults.
Verona mentioned that the teens involved in the fight resulting in her son Julian Corniel’s death still roam their neighborhood. “It’s frustrating,” she remarked, explaining that she still sees them, seemingly unbothered by what happened.
“The law should be changed. These kids keep acting out, so the penalties should be stricter,” Verona expressed her frustration.
At just 36, Verona hopes that the name of the teen who killed Julian will be made public and that the other teens involved will face repercussions. “Family courts don’t seem to treat these offenses seriously enough. Offenders seem more protected,” she added.
In an unrelated incident, an 11-year-old girl, Kyhara Tay, was shot by two teenagers outside a nail salon in the Bronx last July, leaving her family devastated. The shooters were looking for a rival when they shot Tay, who was not involved in gang activity.
One of the shooters, reported to be Matthew Godwin, is awaiting sentencing for the tragedy, while his accomplice, Bojang, received a 15-year sentence.
“If you’re packing a gun and trying to kill, you should be charged like an adult,” said Kyhara’s mother, Yahisha Gomez.
Similarly, Yanely Henriquez lost her 16-year-old daughter, Angellyh Yambo, on April 8, 2022, when she was struck by a stray bullet during a shooting. Jeremiah Ryan, the accused shooter, was sentenced to 15 years to life.
“Kids think there are no serious consequences,” Henriquez stated. “If you handle a weapon, you should be treated as an adult.” These sentiments echoed throughout the community as they grappled with ongoing violence.
Unfortunately, more violent incidents involving teens have occurred in 2025. In Times Square recently, a 17-year-old identifier was involved in a shootout that injured three people, including a tourist.
After a melee at a restaurant, the responsible party, Jaden Clark, fired a gun into the crowd, later pleading not guilty to several charges.
On August 5, two teens, aged 15 and 16, were arrested for the murder of 14-year-old Angel Mendoza, who was severely beaten and stabbed while hanging out with a friend in a Bronx playground.
Video footage revealed the violent nature of the attack. Sadly, Mendoza was not affiliated with any gangs and had no prior clashes with law enforcement, according to his family.
The legal system’s treatment of young offenders was again spotlighted when a young 14-year-old allegedly fired shots in Morisania after a fight, leading to the death of 16-year-old Evett Jeffrey.
Evett was shot while riding a scooter the day she celebrated her anniversary with her boyfriend; her alleged murderer has a history of similar offenses but pleaded not guilty.
The tragic stabbing of Julian Corniel occurred on Valentine’s Day, compounded by the chaotic aftermath of a large brawl among teenagers at a McDonald’s. A 16-year-old has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing Corniel, who succumbed to his injury shortly after.
In another case, a suspect in a January 2023 Coney Island stabbing was charged with second-degree murder as an adult. The incident involved a young boy being stabbed during a fight, reportedly witnessed by his twin brothers.
The ongoing violence involving young people raises crucial questions about existing laws and their effectiveness in holding juvenile offenders accountable.
