A 17-year-old girl, identified as Shantasia O’Brian, has been shot dead by her boyfriend’s 15-year-old brother a day to her 18th birthday.
Shantasia, a freshman at the College of Staten Island, was picked up at school by her family last Friday, September 2, so they could celebrate her birthday together at a seafood restaurant in Bronx, New York.
After they all reunited, Shantasia’s grandmother, speaking to New York Daily News, recounted how she hugged her granddaughter. “I was crying and she was wiping away my tears, saying, ‘Don’t cry, Grandma. I love you.'”, she said.
Few hours before the family dinner, Shantasia, who had just started dating a boy in the neighborhood, told her mom she wanted to hang out with some friends but promised to be back in time for her 18th birthday celebration at City Island Lobster House.
She then followed her boyfriend in his car, while his 15-year-old brother was in the backseat, and they were headed to 136th Ave. near Brookville Blvd. in Laurelton.
The brother was said to be playing with a gun when it suddenly went off and pierced Shantasia, who was in the passenger seat. After firing the shot, he threw away the gun.
The mother of the deceased, while recounting what transpired, said she received a call from her daughter’s boyfriend whom she had not met and he simply said ‘Shantasia’s been shot’ and hung up.
Shantasia was rushed to the hospital but sadly, she didn’t make it.
Speaking on the tragedy, the bereaved mother said, “It just makes no sense. It makes me mad. I’m furious. I don’t know how I’m going to function.”
The suspect, whose name was withheld because he’s still a minor, has been arrested for manslaughter, weapon possession and tampering with physical evidence.
So sad😥