A Queens community is in shock after a 13-year-old boy was left fighting for his life following a shooting outside a Dunkin’ on Sunday morning.
Police said officers responded to a 911 call around 8:20 a.m. on September 22 in Cambria Heights, where they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to Cohen Children’s Medical Center in critical condition.
The victim has been identified by relatives as Sanjay Samuel. Family members told CBS New York that doctors say Sanjay is brain-dead and unresponsive. His mother, Vilene Griffith, shared her heartbreak: “Sanjay’s not doing well. Sanjay’s brain dead. Nothing is going on. He’s not breathing on his own. He’s not doing nothing.”
Authorities say a suspect approached Sanjay and his friends before firing a single shot, then fled the scene on a scooter. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, but no arrests have been made.
Despite the devastating prognosis, Griffith is holding onto hope. “Miracles do happen, and I’m trusting God for Sanjay to get up,” she told reporters. She also had a message for the shooter: “Why? Sanjay was only 13 years old.”
Neighbors expressed their sorrow, with one local resident telling ABC7NY, “We stand with the family … this is a son that you like to have.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Sanjay’s medical needs, describing him as “a vibrant, fun-loving teenager” who loves basketball, fishing, dancing, and playing the drums. The fundraiser had brought in over $8,000 of its $13,000 goal by September 24.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS.
