A 16-year-old boy suspected of fatally shooting a 13-year-old in a potential gang-related incident outside a Dunkin’ Donuts in Queens turned himself in to police on Friday afternoon, according to law enforcement sources.
Jaysohn Sykes, who attends Campus Magnet High School, surrendered around noon at the 105th Precinct stationhouse, just a day after NYPD authorities named him as the suspect in the shooting death of 13-year-old Sanjay Samuel, which occurred earlier this week on Monday morning outside the coffee shop in Springfield Gardens.
Investigators suspect that Sykes, also known as Flex, shot Sanjay during a confrontation involving multiple individuals, as detailed by NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny on Thursday.
“He approached the crowd and confronted them. There was shouting back and forth before the group suddenly dispersed,” Kenny explained.
“At this point, it appears that the suspect brandishes a handgun, prompting the crowd to scatter momentarily,” he continued.
“After getting back on the scooter, the crowd begins yelling at him again. He returns and gets into a physical altercation with Sanjay,” Kenny noted.
“As they exchanged punches, a gunshot was fired, and Sanjay fell to the ground. The suspect then fled the scene.”
Investigators noted that Sanjay had previously posted about the SSM gang, which is a faction of the Bloods, leading to speculations of a gang motive behind the incident.
Despite this, Sanjay, who identified himself as “J2 Guns” on social media, was not recorded in the NYPD’s gang database and had no prior criminal record, according to police officials.
His family has also denied any connections to gang activities.
Conversely, Sykes has several posts on social media featuring a blood drop, but none that directly reference a gang, as Kenny stated.
Sources indicate that the U.S. Marshals Service facilitated Sykes’ surrender.
No formal charges have been filed as of yet.
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