William Alcindor, a 66-year-old male from Cambria Heights, was driving his Nissan Rogue in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens on the afternoon of September 16, 2024, when his life was tragically cut short. In a senseless act of violence, Alcindor was struck by gunfire, causing him to lose control of his vehicle, which then hit a 23-year-old female pedestrian. Alcindor, a father of three, was not the intended target of the shooting. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead from gunshot wounds to his head and chest.
The shooting occurred near a Popeyes restaurant on Farmers Boulevard, where a 15-year-old male, reportedly a member of a local gang, was engaged in a verbal dispute with a rival gang member. Following the argument, the teenager allegedly pulled out a 9mm handgun and fired multiple shots. It was during this exchange that the stray bullets fatally wounded Alcindor as he drove past the scene. The young woman who was struck by Alcindor's vehicle sustained serious injuries but survived.
In the days following the shooting, the New York Police Department arrested the 15-year-old suspect. He was subsequently indicted by a Queens grand jury on a five-count indictment that includes charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and assault. The teenager, whose name has not been released due to his age, is being held without bail and faces the possibility of a sentence of 15 years to life in prison if convicted.
