In the late hours of May 12, 2015, a burst of violence on a street in East Harlem claimed the life of 24-year-old Shaka Jones, a male resident of Manhattan. Jones, who was Black, was on Second Avenue near East 100th Street at approximately 11:45 p.m. when he was suddenly set upon by a group of three individuals—two men and a woman. The unprovoked attack quickly escalated from a physical assault to a fatal shooting.
The trio of assailants engaged Jones in a fistfight before he managed to break away and run towards the entrance of a nearby grocery store. As he sought refuge, one of the male attackers, who was wearing a black hoodie, pulled out a firearm and shot Jones in the right shoulder. After the shot was fired, one of the assailants was reportedly heard saying, 'How you like that'. The suspects then fled the scene on foot. Emergency services were called, and first responders found Jones in the basement of the store. He was rushed to Metropolitan Hospital, but his injury proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The New York Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide and released surveillance footage that captured the moments leading up to the deadly confrontation. The video showed the three suspects walking down the street before they confronted and chased Jones. The suspects were described as being between 18 and 25 years old.
Despite the video evidence and public appeals for information, the case has grown cold. The motive for the attack on Shaka Jones was never publicly disclosed by the authorities, leaving a void of unanswered questions for his family and the community. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder, and the three suspects remain unidentified and at large. The lack of significant progress has been a source of ongoing frustration for those seeking justice for Jones's untimely death.
