A boy was arrested on a charge of murder after allegedly shooting a father who was trying to retrieve his son’s stolen baseball cap, according to police in New York.
The New York Police Department said that they have arrested 16-year-old Adonis Barnett of Brooklyn, after being accused of shooting 38-year-old Gerald Cummings.
Barnett has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
According to the police investigation, at approximately 10:18 p.m., near the basketball courts outside of P.S. 6, in the vicinity of Snyder and Bedford Avenues, Barnett shot Cummings, once in the back and once in the back of the head.
Cummings’ son was present at the time of the shooting.
Cummings had approached Barnett and 16-year-old Romell Baptiste, alleging that the teens assaulted his son and stole his “Just Don” Oakland Raiders leather and snakeskin baseball cap days earlier at the same location.
The cap is valued at approximately $400.
On the night of the shooting, witnesses saw Barnett with Baptiste, who was wearing the distinct stolen cap, prompting the victim’s son to call his father for assistance.
When Cummings arrived and attempted to retrieve his son’s hat, Barnett and Baptiste argued with the victim. As Cummings proceeded to leave, Barnett took a gun out of his backpack and shot the victim twice.
Cummings died at the Kings County Hospital as a result of gunshot wounds. Baptiste was charged with second-degree robbery for allegedly stealing the “Just Don” baseball cap.