On the night of March 31, 2023, a burst of gunfire shattered the relative calm of an Astoria, Queens street, leaving two young men dead. One of the victims was 22-year-old Xavier Roberts, a resident of the Bronx. The incident unfolded around 10:30 p.m. in front of 24-15 Steinway Street, near the intersection with Astoria Boulevard. Roberts and his companion, 21-year-old Jaheim Hamilton, were walking together when they were ambushed by three individuals.
Two of the assailants opened fire,
striking both Roberts and Hamilton multiple times in the torso. Roberts was discovered at the scene of the shooting, while Hamilton was found around the corner, having apparently sought refuge inside 24-35 38th Street after being wounded. Emergency responders rushed both men to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, but their injuries proved to be fatal, and both were pronounced dead. Witnesses reported hearing a rapid succession of gunshots, with one person estimating as many as 20 shots were fired. The neighborhood, which some residents said had seen an increase in problems associated with local nightclubs, was left shaken.
In the immediate aftermath, the New York Police Department launched an investigation, stating that they believed the victims were targeted. The three suspects were seen fleeing the scene eastbound on the Grand Central Parkway in a red Jeep Grand Cherokee distinguished by a red and black hood. The NYPD released surveillance images of the suspects and the vehicle, appealing to the public for assistance in identifying those responsible.
For months, the investigation continued without an arrest. However, a significant development occurred after a year-long inquiry into the double homicide. Authorities arrested a man identified as rapper Rasheem Lee in connection with the fatal shootings of Roberts and Hamilton. Following the extensive investigation, Lee was charged with murder, bringing a measure of progress to a case that had deeply affected the community.
