On the evening of April 16, 2022, a senseless act of violence tragically cut short the life of 48-year-old Yaw Pabi, a male resident of Queens, New York, who was known as a community mentor and a devoted father. Pabi was standing with his brother and cousin on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in the Jamaica neighborhood when he was fatally struck by gunfire. The shots were not intended for him, making his death a devastating case of being an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
Emergency services rushed him to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, but he succumbed to gunshot wounds to his head and torso.
The investigation into Pabi's death launched by the New York Police Department would stretch on for nearly two years before a significant breakthrough occurred. Detectives meticulously pieced together evidence, relying heavily on video surveillance and license plate readers. This technology allowed them to trace a silver Hyundai sedan seen fleeing the scene of the shooting. The vehicle was tracked to a deli in Manhattan where, earlier on the day of the murder, two men were recorded purchasing face masks and gloves—items the shooters were seen wearing.
This crucial evidence led authorities to identify two suspects from Virginia: Marquise Brown, 25, and Joseph Woods, 38. On March 12, 2024, the two men were arrested in Virginia and subsequently extradited to Queens to face justice. Investigators determined that on the night of the incident, Brown and Woods exited their vehicle, approached the group that included Pabi, and fired at least 15 shots before fleeing. It was established that Yaw Pabi had no known connection to his alleged killers, and a clear motive for the shooting remains elusive.
Following their extradition, Brown and Woods were arraigned on a five-count indictment. The charges brought against them include second-degree murder and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon. As the legal proceedings continue, both men face the possibility of a sentence of 25 years to life in prison if they are convicted for the untimely and tragic death of Yaw Pabi. The community continues to mourn the loss of a man described as a positive influence who worked to steer young people away from negativity.
