LittleAfrica News recently covered the death of Nyheem Wright who was brutally stabbed and killed by a group of teenagers. On Sunday, January 30th, 13-year-old Trashawn Jones was charged with his murder. Two other boys, Elijah Lewis and Javon Johnnie, aged 14 and 15 respectively, were also charged with the crime. The group of teenagers allegedly stabbed Wright after confronting the group in an effort to stop them from attacking a girl. The murder occurred in broad daylight on the streets of Coney Island on January 20th.
According to the police, the three boys handed themselves over to the NYPD. Jones was questioned by police at the 60th Precinct station. It is alleged he placed himself at the crime scene and made incriminating statements. He was questioned in the presence of his mother because he is a minor. He was charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. According to the NY Post, Lewis and Johnnie were charged with first-degree manslaughter. “I’ve never had a 13-year-old in this part [of court] until now. The only way to have a 13-year-old is if they’re charged with murder. It’s not a good thing,” Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Craig Walker said.
Jones, who was supported by his mother in court, was denied bail.
The police claim all three suspects have been implicated in prior crimes. The youngest suspect has been arrested for assault before. The 14-year-old boy was a suspect in two robberies. The oldest suspect was previously arrested for assault, burglary, and grand larceny. According to the police, he has allegedly also been involved in two shootings and is on parole for possession of an illegal weapon.
The death of Wright was tragic as it greatly affected his family and the community that knew him. He was described as a wonderful person to be around and was going to be the first person in his family to graduate with a high school diploma. “He was on the verge of graduation and was a hard worker who took an active role in leading other young people at his school,” Schools Chancellor David Banks wrote of Nyheem. His mother, Simone Brooks, said she had already moved Nyheems’s twin brother, Raheem, out of New York City. She said Raheem was now living in Atlanta, Georgia with relatives. She was also looking at leaving New York City, citing violence as her reason for wanting to leave. “Anywhere but here,” she said. “I can’t escape it.” Brooks was looking at moving to Atlanta or North Carolina.
Brooks had sent out a plea for her son to receive justice and with the alleged perpetrators arrested and charged, she might see it coming to fruition. “We want justice for my son Nyheem because he did not deserve this, and we are not OK,” she said before the three suspects were arrested. “I’m gonna be at every trial just to make sure I get justice for my son because I’m not gonna let this slide,” Brooks said, as she vowed to “keep her foot on their necks.”
