New York City, NY – A teenage shooter rode a Citi Bike to fatally gun down a 16-year-old “peacemaker” in Soho, as revealed in court documents. The suspect, Henry Thomas, was identified in part by his distinctive Air Jordans. Thomas was arraigned on a second-degree murder charge in Manhattan Criminal Court following the May 7 murder of Makhi Brown, a tragic incident that occurred just half a block from the charter school the victim attended.
Surveillance footage captured the 19-year-old gunman wearing unique black Air Jordans with red and yellow accents, entering the Citi Bike basket before the shooting. According to the criminal complaint, when the bike arrived at Urban Plaza, the shooter emerged from the basket and fired three shots, fatally hitting Brown in the head and leg.
Brown, who was attempting to mediate a dispute between two groups, was affiliated with a non-violence organization called “The GodSquad,” which ran a basketball team he played on. Investigators located Thomas at his Upper East Side residence, where they found the distinctive sneakers shown in the video footage. He was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service and the NYPD.
During his court appearance, Thomas wore gray sweatpants and white high top sneakers trimmed in black. The Assistant District Attorney accused Thomas of executing the 16-year-old high school student, while the defense attorney objected to the use of the word “executed.” Despite objections, Thomas was remanded to Rikers Island correctional facility without bail.
As Thomas was escorted from the courtroom, his family and friends expressed their support, with one person shouting, “We love you.” If convicted, Thomas faces a minimum sentence of 15 years to life and a maximum of 25 years to life. The tragic incident has left the community in shock, highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence on young lives.