NEW YORK – Richard Swygert, 19, has been indicted by a Queens grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on murder and related charges. The defendant is accused of fatally shooting a 20-year-old Rosedale man and injuring two other individuals outside a Kew Gardens hotel in the early morning hours of January 1, 2021.
Swygert, of Harrison Avenue in the Bronx, was arraigned today on a seven-count indictment charging him with murder in the second degree and two counts of attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first and second degree, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
According to the charges, Swygert allegedly pulled out a gun after a disagreement between two groups of guests celebrating New Year’s Eve at the now-shuttered Umbrella Hotel on 82nd Avenue and Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. At 1 a.m. on the morning of January 1, 2021, the defendant allegedly shot 20-year-old Robert Williams and two other men. Williams died on the scene. The two other victims were taken to local hospitals for medical treatment.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “The defendant’s alleged actions led to the first homicide in New York City this year. Senseless shootings have brought grief and heartache to far too many families in our neighborhoods. My Office will continue to work with our law enforcement and community partners to stop the proliferation of guns in Queens and to hold accountable perpetrators of gun violence.”
Scott faces up to 25 years-to-life in prison if convicted.
The investigation was conducted by Detectives Kevin Granger, Thomas Scalise and James Zozarro of Queens South Homicide Squad.
