Photo Courtesy of Google
Uriah Richardson was shot in the vicinity of Mott Avenue and Beach 22nd Street.
BY Forum Staff
A Far Rockaway man has been indicted for allegedly shooting a young man to death in front of a car service on Oct. 4, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Monday.
Waturi Johnson, 51, was arraigned on Monday on an indictment charging him with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Johnson was ordered to return on Jan. 20.
According to the charges, at approximately 1:10 p.m. on Oct. 4, Johnson was observed on surveillance video having a brief conversation with 29-year-old Uriah Richardson outside a car service business near Mott Avenue and Beach 22nd Street. Johnson dropped a plastic bag and allegedly pulled out a gun, which he then pointed and fired several times in the victim’s direction. The victim ran away from Johnson across Beach 22nd Street and collapsed moments later in front of a nearby subway station. The defendant allegedly put the gun into his back pocket, picked up the plastic bag he had been carrying, and walked in the opposite direction.
“This is yet another reminder how senseless gun violence is causing heart-wrenching loss in our communities,” DA Katz said.
Richardson was taken to a nearby hospital with gunshot wounds to his shoulder and chest. The victim died from the injuries.
Cops from the 101st Precinct identified Johnson using still images culled from surveillance video. Johnson was apprehended last week, Katz noted.
“The defendant is accused of using a gun to end the life of a young father of three. This is yet another reminder how senseless gun violence is causing heart-wrenching loss in our communities. On the run since this inexcusable killing, the defendant is now in custody and facing very serious charges,” the district attorney said.
If convicted, Johnson faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
