13-Y-O boy with Guyanese parentage shot dead in Queens

A 13-year-old boy of Guyanese parentage who was shot to head at a Dunkin Donuts in Queens three days ago has succumbed to his injuries while being treated at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital.

According to ABC Eyewitness News, the dead teen, Sanjay Samuel, a high school freshman, was in the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot with his friends on Monday when someone came up on a scooter and shot him.

Detectives recovered surveillance video that indicates the shooting was targeted. Surveillance video of the shooting has not been released yet. Police believe the young teen was the intended target.

While police have yet to make an arrest, they said they have identified a person of interest that they are searching for. The teen had just started high school and was hoping to try out for the basketball team. The family says they want to donate Samuel’s organs.

The victim’s mother Vilene Griffith, who spoke with ABC news says her whole world fell apart after realizing her boy, affectionately nicknamed “Peanut,” is never coming home.
“Sanjay was the most joyful son I had.” “My heart is overwhelmed with grief with my Sanjay.”

“That’s something that’s unbelievable,” Griffith said. “I’m numb and I’m speechless. I’m just numb.” She recalls their last conversation.

“He said, ‘mom, bye I love you. See you this afternoon.’ I said, ‘call me when you get there,'” she said. She never received that call.

“I’m so heartbroken because I would be at his bedside holding his hand talking to him. Daddy loves you. The whole family loves you. We want to see you come back, you know,” said Sanjay’s father, Theophilus Samuel.