QUEENS, NY – Dajuan Williams, 19, is facing murder and weapons charges for allegedly shooting and killing a 37-year-old wife and mother of two young children last month. The victim, an innocent bystander, was hit by a bullet intended for a rival gang member.<\/p>\n
District Attorney Melinda Katz said, \u201cOnce again, the combination of guns and gangs has devastated a family and stunned a community. The defendant is charged with a truly senseless crime, another tragic reason why we need to get guns off our streets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams, of the Woodside Houses, was arraigned last night before Queens Criminal Court Judge Jeffrey Gershuny on a complaint charging him with murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Judge Gershuny remanded the defendant and set his return date for April 6, 2021. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years-to-life in prison.<\/p>\n
DA Katz said the victim, Guedelia Vallinas, was shot in the head on March 12, 2021, at 8:14 p.m. as she was walking on 48th Street at Broadway, a few blocks from the Woodside Houses. The defendant and an accomplice were allegedly shooting at a rival gang member.
\nThe pair allegedly fired at least five shots. Mrs. Vallinas was struck once and instantly fell to the ground. She was taken to a nearby Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at approximately 10:15 p.m.<\/p>\n