The family of a 7-year-old girl who was struck by a stray bullet in Harlem in 2024 is still grappling with the trauma from that incident, as noted by prosecutors on Tuesday. This ongoing struggle stems in part from the light sentence given to one of the offenders involved.
On November 11, 2024, 21-year-old Daniel Idowu received an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal, after admitting to unintentionally shooting young Fatu Keita in the stomach while she was out to buy new glasses.
Manhattan District Attorney Dylan Ross Huertos informed Judge Steven Statsinger that, during the chaos, the glasses intended for the girl ended up on the ground and later collected by police.
Idowu, who was 19 when the shooting occurred, faced a potential maximum sentence of 25 years under his plea agreement. Prosecutors had urged for 14 years, but Statsinger considered a shorter term appropriate for Idowu to have a chance to “move on from this incident.”
Meanwhile, prosecutors highlighted that the family is still trying to regain the sense of safety they had before the tragic shooting, which took place at the intersection of West 145th Street and Bradhurst Avenue.
“They are hoping to find a new home to help escape the memories of that day,” Huertos remarked.
Fatu’s family was absent from the court and did not provide victim impact statements.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Fatu suffered significant injuries, described medically as “ripped open” in her abdomen, which led to serious gastrointestinal issues requiring a month-long hospital stay for recovery.
Prosecutors explained that the shooting stemmed from “rivalry among drill rappers,” with Idowu and his co-defendant, True Womack, firing nine shots aimed at rival gang members, ultimately striking the innocent girl instead.
Idowu remained silent during the court proceedings but pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder on November 11, 2025, a charge that can carry a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Womack, then 17, received a separate sentence for a more brazen shooting connected to the same events, a case that continues to unfold.
Fatu, now 8, received his first bicycle as a gift from the New York City Police Department last summer, an uplifting note amid the ongoing struggles.
The family did not respond to comments on the latest developments.
