BROOKLYN — A Brownsville teenager has been indicted on murder and related charges stemming from the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy while he was playing basketball in Chester Park in Brownsville.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “This tragic shooting claimed the life of a promising teenager with a bright future and endangered the lives of many others. Senseless gun violence like this is destroying too many lives, including, in this case, the young defendant who allegedly fired the gun. We will now seek justice for the victim and his heartbroken loved ones.”
The District Attorney identified the defendant as Aaron Nathaniel, 14, of Brownsville, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Craig Walker on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted of the top count he faces 15 years to life in prison.
The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on September 21, 2018, at 3:50 p.m., in Chester Park, on Chester Street, in Brownsville, Nathaniel allegedly opened fire on a crowd of people on a basketball court, striking the victim, Oluwadurotimi Oyebola, 16, of Queens, once in the head. The victim was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Nathaniel was arrested on October 3, 2018, following an investigation. The shooting was captured on video surveillance and following his arrest, Nathaniel made statements to police in which he admitted to the shooting and said the victim was not the intended target.
