14-Year-Old Malakai Adams Shot and Killed in Queens as NYPD Releases Images of Suspect

The NYPD has released images of a man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Malakai Adams in Queens, as investigators continue working to determine what led to the teenager’s death.

The shooting happened shortly after 3:30 p.m. on September 21 at the Ocean Bay Apartments in Far Rockaway, according to police. Officers responding to an emergency call found Malakai suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. He was rushed to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police say the newly released images show the suspect riding a scooter believed to have belonged to Malakai after the shooting. Investigators are hoping the images will help identify the man and establish his movements immediately following the attack.

Initial police information indicated that the suspect may have been attempting to steal Malakai’s scooter when the shooting occurred. However, the NYPD later backed away from that possible motive, and investigators have not established why the teenager was targeted.

The suspect was initially described as a male wearing dark clothing. Police said he fled the area on the scooter and was later seen traveling on Norton Avenue wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black and gray pants, and red-and-white sneakers.

Authorities are also investigating whether Malakai knew the person who shot him. That question remains unresolved as detectives continue examining evidence and surveillance footage from the area.

No arrests had been announced in the latest available reports. The NYPD is asking anyone who may have witnessed the shooting, seen the suspect or has information about the scooter to come forward.

The department is urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted through the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers channels, and police say all calls are kept confidential.

For Malakai’s family and the Far Rockaway community, the shooting has left a teenager’s life tragically cut short while many questions remain unanswered. Investigators continue to search for the suspect and determine what happened in the moments before and after the gunfire.

The case remains an active investigation, and the motive has not been established. Until an arrest is made and evidence is presented, the person shown in the released images is a suspect sought by police, not a person who has been charged or convicted.

Source: NY Daily News