In the fall of 2021, a fatal shooting in East Harlem claimed the life of 34-year-old Susakii Young. On the evening of November 17, police responded to a 911 call at the Wagner Houses on First Avenue. There, near a playground, they discovered Young with a gunshot wound to his head. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting led police to Emres Smith, a 35-year-old man with a prior criminal record.
A witness reported seeing the suspect take something from the ground after the shooting, though the immediate motive was unclear. Smith was arrested and subsequently charged with the murder of Susakii Young.
Further investigation connected Smith to another shooting that had occurred just days before Young's death. On November 13, Smith was allegedly involved in a botched drug deal that resulted in a stray bullet wounding an innocent bystander. In addition to the murder charge, Smith faced a litany of other charges, including attempted murder, robbery, weapon possession, and assault, related to both incidents. His criminal history included convictions for drug dealing and attempted weapon possession.
