Daja “Asia” Robinson. Photo via Facebook.
Police are making headway in the investigation into the shooting death of a 14-year-old Daja “Asia” Robinson on a city bus in Queens: with a suspect in custody as of this morning, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly confirmed that the shooting was gang-related.
According to law enforcement, the suspected shooter is a member of the Snow Gang.
On Tuesday, officers with Operation Impact, the program that places rookie cops in tough neighborhoods, were approached by a person who claimed to know who the shooter was. The witness reportedly attended the Sweet Sixteen party that was held at the Onyx Lounge in honor of Tasheana Eubanks, and said that when the party ended the witness went with a friend to the bus stop at Sutphin Boulevard and Rockaway Blvd, cops said.
The witness reportedly told police that they saw shooter at the bus stop.
The witness’ friend got on the bus, and the witness stayed to wait for a ride with a family member.
Then, cops said, the witness saw several people the witness recognized as members of the Snow Gang walking towards the bus. The witness told police the Snow Gang members began arguing with a group of males on the bus that the witness believes are members of the Wood City Crew. Cops said the witness saw the shooter pull a dark colored firearm from his waistband and shoot at the bus, then flee through the Baisley Pond Park toward 125th Avenue.
The suspect the witness named was arrested this morning at his home without a struggle, police said. He is currently being interviewed by cops, but has not been formally arrested or charged.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly today emphasized that Robinson had nothing to do with the gangs involved.
“It was a terrible tragedy but it’s just indicative of the fact that we have too many guns, and too many individuals with access to guns,” Kelly said.
Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat
