Teen with Guyanese heritage dies after being shot in the head

A 13-year-old boy has died days after being shot in the head while walking to school in Cambria Heights, Queens.

The victim, Sanjay Griffith Samuel, was struck around 08:30 hrs on September 22.

His cousin, Martina Johnson told the News Room that the family understands that Samuel was making his way to his school when an unidentified gunman rode up on a motorcycle and opened fire in front of a Dunkin’ Donuts on Linden Boulevard in Cambria Heights, Queens New York.

Sanjay, who has Guyanese heritage, was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support, but doctors reported no brain activity from the time of his admission.

He succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.

“We were hoping for a miracle but there was no brain activity. They didn’t see that they could have do anything for him,” Johnson told the News Room.

According to Johnson, Sanjay had only started at a new school two weeks before the shooting. He would have turned 14 next month and his family now plans to hold his funeral on his birthday.

Investigations are ongoing o determine whether Sanjay was target of the attack and how many shots were fired. No arrests have been made.

Samuel’s is the youngest child to his mother, who is a Guyanese-born New Yorker.

Sanjay was described as a fun and loving boy who loved to dance and dreamed of becoming a basketball player.

In a final act of kindness, Johnson said his family has decided to donate his organs to help others in need.