Police Release: Authorities have released an image of the suspect in the Jaden Pierre case at Roy Wilkins Park

Jaden Pierre, 15, was fatally shot at Roy Wilkins Parks on April 16

Zahir Davis, 18, a reputed member of the BG4 gang, has been identified as the alleged shooter of Jaden Pierre, 15, of the Little Guyana section of South Richmond Hill, who was shot at Roy Wilkins Park on April 16, according to multiple reports. Police believe Davis fled to Jamaica, West Indies, the reports said. 

This comes days after the NYPD released images from cell phone footage former Mayor Eric Adams released on X without the permission of the victim’s family. 

“A 15-year-old was beaten and shot to death at a Southeast Queens playground … and somehow this isn’t the top story,” said Adams, who thanked Borough President Donovan Richards and state Attorney General Tish James for speaking up about the issue. 

Jaden was shot at Nautilus Playground, according to the Daily News. 

Richards said in a statement that gun violence is not the split-second pulling of a trigger, because a bullet’s flight truly begins the moment a young person first feels the sting of disinvestment in his or her community. 

“It begins when that betrayal starts to degrade their perceived value and blur their vision of what their future could be,” said Richards, who pursued politics because one of his best friends was murdered at 20 years old. 

He hopes that the investment in a $140 million new state-of-the art community center at the park and efforts to expand Cure Violence programming in the region will help to uplift young people.

“His life had meaning,” continued Richards. 

James called the shooting “senseless” on X and said she will work tirelessly every day to end gun violence in the state. 

In the video footage, one teen punches and kicks Pierre several times, a second teen kicks him twice after he was dragged down by his hoodie onto the ground and a third, believed to be the triggerman, pummels the smaller victim about a dozen times. Well over a dozen other teens looked on recording the beating with their cellphones. 

Police said they received a 911 call about the shooting at 6:15 p.m. and observed that Jaden had a gunshot wound to the chest. EMS rushed the teenager to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries. 

“My son was shot in the chest,” Shanelle Weston told the Daily News. “My family, my community, everybody is devastated.”

Weston went on to call those who looked on “p–sies.”

Weston told the outlet Jaden was excited about securing his first job via the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Jaden’s father, Gardy Pierre, had dropped the teen off at the park to play basketball, reported the Daily News. It turned out he was going to participate in a planned water-balloon fight that was organized over social media. 

A Facebook post says the father’s last words to him were, “I’ll pick you up in [three] hours.”

Weston’s sister, Shakira Weston, created a GoFundMe April 17 with a goal of raising $35,000 toward funeral arrangements, which had not been announced by press time. About 83 percent or $28,775, was raised from 560 donations by Tuesday. If interested in supporting the fundraiser, go to shorturl.at/vyItZ.

“As our family navigates this heartbreaking loss, we are asking for support to help his parents and siblings during this incredibly difficult time,” said Weston’s sister in a statement. 

Announcement of a #bikelife motorcycle tribute ride out was also posted on Instagram by Jes Blaze in honor of the youth. The event meet up is at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 26, at Forest Park Bandshell along Forest Park Drive in Woodhaven. Kickstands will go up at 12 p.m. and the motorcyclists will drive to Roy Wilkins Park to Baisley Boulevard and 119th Avenue. 

Blaze told the Chronicle, via the social media’s messaging platform, to further help raise funds for the family of her nephew’s friend she will be doing a collection at Roy Wilkins Park. 

On Instagram, she said, “what happened wasn’t just ‘another incident,’” and “accountability has to start at the household. If we don’t correct it the streets will …”

“This protect mine no matter what mindset … is part of the problem,” she added, referring to those who know the shooter. 

James Johnson, the chair of the Southern Queens Parks Association Advisory Council, told the Chronicle on Monday that the shooting “was definitely gang-related.”

SQPA is the park steward of Roy Wilkins and is based at the recreational center. 

“Millennials need to step up as we are the closest in age to these youths,” said Johnson, 35, a father of three. 

Johnson went on to say that kids get into trouble in the hours from 3 to 6 p.m., after classes end, and that parents should send their kids to youth mentoring programs, afterschool programs, community-based organizations or groups for young people at church. 

“Roy Wilkins is a safe hub and now we have to reintroduce that to the community,” said Johnson, who is the co-founder of the youth mentoring group Southeast Rhinos at the community center. 

Jaden leaves behind his older sister, two younger brothers, his father and his pregnant mother. 

The shooting took place within the 113th Precinct. Councilman Ty Hankerson (D-Jamaica) noted that earlier in the day, another teenager was stabbed at Rufus King Park in Jamaica, located in the adjacent 103rd Precinct.

“Let’s pull together at this time,” Hankerson said on Instagram.

The NYPD said a 13-year-old was sent to Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park in stable condition after being stabbed in the left leg with a machete following a dispute at the park, located at 152-11 89 Ave.

Police told the Chronicle they got a 911 call about the incident at the park around 4:03 p.m. 

Two arrests have been made. Jean Flores, 18, of Archer Avenue in Jamaica, was charged with two counts of robbery, one count of assault and criminal possession of a weapon. A 15-year-old boy was charged with two counts of robbery. 

Hankerson said his prayers are with that victim’s family, too. 

Elected officials from Southeast Queens held an emergency community meeting at the rec center on Tuesday, to address the issue. 

“Our community is hurting, but we will not be silent,” Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D-Springfield Gardens) posted on Instagram ahead of the meeting.