Elected officials and leaders ask for the public’s assistance in apprehending the suspect wanted for the tragic shooting death of 14-year-old Daja Robinson

Jamaica, Queens —Today, Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Wills, religious and community leaders asked for the public’s assistance in apprehending the suspect wanted for the senseless and tragic shooting of 14-year-old Daja Robinson. Daja was killed last Saturday after being hit with a stray bullet while boarding a Q6 bus in Queens. The Speaker and Council Member Wills were joined by Erica Ford from Life Camp, Latchman Budhai from the Foundation of Hindu Mandirs, Nicole Bell, whose husband was lost due to gun violence, Bishop Calvin Rice from New Jerusalem, Bishop Erskine Williams from New Seasons Family Worship Center, Bishop Caesar Cabiness from Praise Tabernacle, Pastor Jeffery Thompson of Amity Baptist, Pastor Mathew Singh of New Haven and members of Harlem Snug, SOS Bronx and Man Up.

Additionally, the Council announced its ongoing efforts to address gun violence in the city. It recently allocated $4.8 million in initiatives like CureViolence, aimed at combating gun violence in high-crime neighborhoods. This weekend’s shooting was the first shooting in the South Jamaica CureViolence target area in 255 days.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Daja Robinson, who tragically lost her life for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “The pain that Daja’s family is feeling has become far too common. We need to do more as a city, state and nation to strengthen our gun control laws and keep families like Daja’s from suffering senseless gun violence.”

Council Member Wills said, “My prayers go out to Daja Robinson’s family as our community and our city mourns her tragic death. We must do more to curtail the senseless gun violence that is permeating our communities. We must also continue to support Cure Violence programs throughout the city. We marked 255 days without an incident of gun violence in our Cure Violence catchment area, let’s expand our efforts and deepen our resolve in memory of Daja.”

Council Member Williams said, “Today, our city mourns another senseless death caused by gun violence. Our prayers for peace and comfort go out to the families and friends of Daja Robinson in this most difficult of hours. While no deadly shooting is easy to cope with as a community, this murder is particularly heinous and shocking. She is another victim of the public health crisis that gun violence has become and is devastating our communities. I am frustrated by the continuing gun violence in our city, but by no means will it deter from our mission to bring safer streets for every New Yorker. We stand with the NYPD as they investigate these murders and seek justice for Daja. We also continue in our pursuit of reforms and targeted resources that will result in improved public safety for every community and, we pray, fewer young people that choose to pursue violence over more positive life choices.”

“It is sad, and at the same time outrageous, to see an innocent young woman losing her life for no reason. The loss of a child is irreparable, but we want to let the family of D’aja Robinson that we stand with them here today. We call on the members of the community to come forward if they have any tip that can lead to the suspects,” said Council Member Fernando Cabrera, Co-Chair of the Gun Violence Task Force. “I’ll continue advocating for more local anti-gun violence initiatives in order to respond to the community’s specific needs. We have to do everything in our power to keep our youth away from gangs, drugs and gun violence.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with Shardia and the Robinson and Sands families after this tremendous loss. Unfortunately, we have been down this road too often. I pledge to continue to work to get illegal handguns out of our community,” said State Sen. Malcolm A. Smith.

“The violence in our community must stop. It had come to the point when we as parents have to worry every time our children walk out the door that some lunatic is going to harm them. This is a nightmare that has happened to the Robinson family and any other family that has had to suffer a loss due to gun violence. We must take our community back so our children can feel safe again,” said Nicole Bell.

“The death of innocent 14-year-old Daja Robinson is yet another tragedy for a community that cries out for an end to this senseless gun violence. Yet again, a mother cries because of the loss of her only child – a child who did no harm. Daja, a good student, a good friend, another life lost. The proliferation of guns and gun violence in New York must end. We have had enough bloodshed and death of innocent children who have done nothing more than live their promising young lives that represent hope for their families. Hope that in an instant turns to disaster and heartbreak. We have had enough shock and awe at the sight of babies in coffins draped in their Sunday best to be viewed for the last time by their grieving loved ones. We have shed far too many tears at the remembrance of promising lives cut short while walking home from school, playing in parks and riding on buses. Young lives doing nothing more than merely living their young lives. Innocent children are dying at the hands of shooters looking for revenge that knows no alternative other than murder. There must be alternatives for youth who have no answer to conflict other than the killing of themselves. We have had enough – and we stand here to demand justice for Daja Robinson, stricter gun laws and an end to the senseless violence in our community,” said Adrienne E. Adams, Chairperson Community Board 12.

Anyone with information about this shooting should contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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