In the late summer of 2015, the life of 16-year-old NeShawn Plummer was tragically cut short on the streets of Queens, New York. On the evening of August 30th, NeShawn was at the intersection of Seagirt Avenue and Beach 26th Street in Far Rockaway when he was struck in the head by a stray bullet. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on August 31st.
A male, NeShawn was not the intended target of the gunfire, which erupted from a dispute between rival gang factions. He was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
This devastating incident was a haunting echo of a previous family tragedy. Just three years earlier, in July 2012, NeShawn's older brother, Shawn Plummer, was also shot and killed a few blocks away. In an effort to protect her younger son from the very same fate, their mother had moved the family out of the neighborhood. NeShawn was reportedly back in Far Rockaway visiting friends when he was killed.
In the aftermath of NeShawn's death, the New York Police Department released a short video clip showing two men believed to be involved in the shooting running from the scene. A sketch of the suspects was also circulated in the hope of generating leads. Despite these efforts, and the profound grief of a mother who had now lost two sons to gun violence, the individuals responsible for NeShawn Plummer's death have never been identified or apprehended. The case grew cold, joining his brother's as an unsolved homicide.
The investigation into NeShawn's murder remains open, and authorities have periodically appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough. The Queens District Attorney's Cold Case Unit continues to seek justice for the Plummer family, a family twice broken by the senseless violence that plagues their former neighborhood. As of now, there have been no arrests, and no suspects have been named in the killing of NeShawn Plummer. His mother is left to navigate the unimaginable pain of her double loss, still waiting for answers and for justice to be served for both of her sons.
