East Harlem woman killed: 18-year-old man due in court to face federal charges in deadly shooting of 69-year-old Robin Wright
An 18-year-old man is due in federal court on Friday after an innocent 69-year-old woman with a walker was fatally shot in East Harlem last week.
Faisil McCants, 18, was charged federally for allegedly firing 15 rounds from a machine gun on a public street, striking and killing Robin Wright on East 110th Street and Madison Avenue just before 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 27.
He kept his head down and was quiet as NYPD detectives led him to the car that would take him downtown to be transferred into federal custody.
McCants faces a federal charge of possessing and using what's classified as a "machine gun."
Wright was with a friend at the time, using a walker, and was not the intended target when she was shot in the face.
Police say she was caught in the crossfire of an apparent gang-related dispute. Police believe it was a drug-related robbery, according to sources.
The suspect was apprehended Thursday morning with the help of members of the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, a federal partner in tracking down individuals wanted in crimes involving illegal drug sales and illegal guns.
Sources said he was taken into custody after checking in with his probation officer.
"As a result of this defendant's allegedly ruthless and utterly reckless violence, an innocent victim was gunned down in broad daylight while simply going about her daily life. New Yorkers deserve better-full stop," said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel.
Police, according to sources, knew who they were looking for and tracked him down.
The shooting apparently stemmed from an ongoing dispute over marijuana dealing on the block.
Along with the federal gun possession charges, McCants is charged with murder, robbery and criminal possession of a weapon by the NYPD.
Wright was remembered by friends and her partner as a beautiful person and a caring soul.
Her death got the attention of elected leaders, mayoral candidates, and multiple law enforcement agencies.
"She was a beautiful person. God bless her. She's in peace now," a person close to the victim said.
Authorities are still looking for at least one of his alleged accomplices in the robbery that sparked the deadly shootout.
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