The heartbroken family of an 11-year-old boy from upstate New York, tragically killed by another child, has come forward for the first time, expressing their dedication to a state program aimed at combating gun violence.
“We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the City of Newburgh and all the police departments that participated in apprehending the individual responsible for this tragedy,” the family of the victim, identified as Matthew Degroat, conveyed in a statement to News12 Westchester on Wednesday.
“A sincere thank you to the SNUG group, its community allies, and everyone for their ongoing prayers and support during this difficult time,” they added. “Though Mathew is no longer with us, his memory will endure forever.”
SNUG, which stands for Should Never Use Guns—spelling “guns” backwards—is a statewide initiative established in 2009, funded through private donations and the New York State Department of Criminal Justice.
This statement from the grieving family marks the first occasion they have addressed the devastating loss of Matthew, whose death on October 9 triggered a lockdown of schools in Newburgh.
Authorities arrived at a residence on North Miller Street around 8:17 a.m. and discovered the boy deceased inside.
A 13-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting, which sources indicated to The Post was retaliatory for a previous shooting incident allegedly involving Matthew’s older sibling.
Newburgh police also confiscated an unregistered handgun from the location, authorities confirmed.
“There were four individuals present in the vicinity at the time of the shooting,” stated Orange County District Attorney David Hoover in an interview with The Post over the weekend.
The alleged shooter, whose identity remains undisclosed due to his age, has not been named, and a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office chose not to provide further comments on the case on Wednesday.
The suspect has been remanded without bail at a juvenile detention facility pending upcoming legal proceedings.
