In the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, 15-year-old Rohan Levy, a promising Black teenager with aspirations of becoming an architect, was fatally wounded in a senseless act of gun violence on the afternoon of February 20, 2017. A student at the Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design, Rohan was walking with three friends near his home on East 55th Street after playing basketball.
What should have been an ordinary day took a tragic turn when a car pulled up, and a gunman emerged, opening fire on the group of teenagers.
Rohan was struck in the back of the head, and his 18-year-old friend was hit in the leg. The shooter then fled the scene in a Honda Accord. Rohan was rushed to Kings County Hospital, where he fought for his life for three days before succumbing to his injuries on February 23, 2017. The shooting was believed to be a case of mistaken identity in a gang-related conflict. Authorities suggested that one of Rohan's friends, who was wearing red pants, may have been mistaken for a member of a rival gang by the assailant, who was actively hunting for rivals. Neither Rohan nor his friends were affiliated with any gangs.
The investigation led to the arrest of 17-year-old Zidon Clarke on April 5, 2017. Clarke, a member of the 'SRK' subset of the Folk Nation street gang, was identified through video footage showing him getting into the getaway car. He was charged with murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. In November 2022, following a bench trial, Zidon Clarke was convicted of first-degree manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder, and other related charges. The following month, he was sentenced to a term of up to 21 years in prison for his role in the tragic death of Rohan Levy and the wounding of his friend.
