Bronx DA: Bronx Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Weapon Possession In Incident That Left 5-Year-Old Boy

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON

FOR WEAPON POSSESSION IN INCIDENT THAT LEFT 5-YEAR-OLD BOY

SHOT IN HEAD ON A BRONX STREET

 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of weapon possession involving a shooting that left a 5-year-old boy critically wounded.

 

District Attorney Clark said, “Any defendant on parole, carrying a gun in broad daylight should receive the maximum sentence under the law, which is 15 years. The young victim miraculously survived a gunshot to the head but continues to struggle with the injuries. An innocent child’s life has been utterly changed.”

 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Michael Quiles, 29, of Washington Avenue, wassentenced today to 10 years in prison and 5 years post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus. A jury found the defendant guilty of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon on March 26, 2019. The defendant was acquitted of Attempted Murder and first-degree Assault. 

 

According to the investigation, on June 5, 2017, in the area of 167th Street and Washington Avenue, the defendant was in possession of a loaded firearm while arguing with two men with whom he was having a dispute. The men were armed with knives and approached the defendant. Quiles, who was on parole at the time, then fired multiple shots during the argument. One bullet struck Jaheem Hunter, who was to celebrate his fifth birthday that day.  His father and sister rushed him to the hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries. He suffered severe brain damage and continues to live with the repercussions from the shooting.

 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney George Suminski, Homicide Counsel, and Assistant District Attorney Patrick Kenny of Trial Bureau 50, under the supervision of Christine Scaccia, Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and the overall supervision of James Brennan, Deputy Chief ofthe Trial Division, and Theresa Gottlieb, Chief of the Trial Division.