Yonkers Police effect arrests in Morris Street homicide and gang shootings

Mayor Mike Spano | City of Yonkers Official photo

By Westchester Reporter Report

Jun 13, 2023

Yonkers, NY – Mayor Mike Spano and Police Commissioner Chris Sapienza announced today multiple arrests in relation to a spate of gang-related shooting incidents that have occurred over the last several weeks, including the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Daquon Powell of Yonkers on Morris Street:

On Wednesday, May 31st, 2023, at about 8:20 PM, members of the Yonkers Police Department responded to the area of 55 Morris Street on a report of a shooting victim. Upon arrival, Officers located an unresponsive male with multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen down on the street next to a black sedan. First Responders rendered CPR and transported the victim to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. A second male victim was also located with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his leg. Police cordoned off the scene and initiated a criminal investigation.

Detectives from the Major Case Squad, Gang Unit, Crime Scene Unit, and Digital Forensics Unit responded to the scene and interviewed subjects and witnesses, recovered surveillance video, and processed ballistic and forensic evidence. Investigation yielded that Powell was driving the black sedan with the second male victim, an 18-year-old resident of Yonkers, sitting in the front passenger seat. The sedan was driven eastbound on Morris Street and stopped in front of house number 55; as the front passenger exited the vehicle, an armed assailant ran up to the driver’s window and fired six gunshots through the window, striking Powell six times and the passenger one time. The gunman, along with two accomplices, then fled the scene; investigators determined that the three of them had been lying in wait in the house’s driveway for Powell to arrive, and believe that the shooting is related to gang violence and that Powell was targeted for assassination.

Detectives quickly identified several persons of interest and over the next several days worked to build a case in support of criminal charges and arrest. Further investigation yielded that the suspected gunman was not local and resided out-of-state; his two suspected accomplices were also implicated in a shooting incident along with a third person that occurred on Saturday May 13th in the area of 100 Livingston Avenue, where a 42-year-old male Brooklyn resident was shot one time in the chest and survived albeit in critical condition.

As the investigation into these incidents continued, Yonkers Police responded to another shooting incident on Sunday June 4th at about 4:10 PM in the area of 77 Riverdale Avenue. A gunman allegedly fired at least seven shots at two individuals riding dirt bikes; the shots missed their targets but struck a random vehicle across the street occupied by two brothers in their 30s; fortunately, no one was injured. Police determined that this shooting was also related to the on-going gang violence. Investigators also discovered that the gun used in the Riverdale Avenue shooting incident was likely the same weapon that was used to murder Powell.

As additional information and evidence was collected, Detectives identified the perpetrators in all three incidents and developed a search warrant and arrest plan. Working with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, and the City of Danbury, Connecticut Police Department, members of the Yonkers Police Department effected the arrests of four individuals on the night of Tuesday June 6th and morning hours of Wednesday June 7th:

Matthew QUINONES, 20-year-old resident of Danbury, Connecticut; charged with Murder 2, a Class A-I Violent Felony in the New York State Penal Law, for the alleged killing of Daquon Powell.

Adolescent Offender 1, a 17-year-old resident of Yonkers; charged with Attempted Murder 2, Assault 1, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2, and Conspiracy 2 for his alleged actions in the Livingston Avenue shooting incident. Also present with QUINONES during the Morris Street homicide.

Adolescent Offender 2, a 16-year-old resident of Yonkers; charged with Attempted Murder 2, Assault 1, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2, and Conspiracy 2 for his alleged actions in the Livingston Avenue shooting incident. Also present with QUINONES during the Morris Street homicide.

Adolescent Offender 3, a 16-year-old resident of Yonkers; charged with Attempted Murder 2, Assault 1, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2, and Conspiracy 2 for his alleged actions in the Livingston Avenue shooting incident. He is also facing a Hindering Prosecution charge for his alleged actions in relation to a shooting incident that occurred on March 23rd in the area of 67 Elliott Avenue where there were no reported injuries.

In addition to the above arrests, the Yonkers Police have identified Adolescent Offender 4 as the alleged perpetrator in the Riverdale Avenue shooting incident, and Detectives are actively working to locate and arrest him. Although 18-years-old now, he was 17 at the time of the incident.

During the execution of search warrants on Riverdale Avenue, two semiautomatic 9mm pistols were recovered: one was thrown out a window as police approached, and another was recovered from the person of Adolescent Offender 3. Both were unlawfully possessed, and investigators are awaiting ballistic testing to yield further information.

Mayor Mike Spano stated, “Yonkers remains one of the safest of the big 5 cities in New York state, thanks to the hard work, skills, and training of our Yonkers Police Department. Far too many young people are following the wrong path and if they become a threat to public safety or themselves, they will be arrested. I applaud the Yonkers Police Department on this investigation, and I hope these juvenile offenders are swiftly brought to justice to avoid any repetitive crimes in our City.”

Commissioner Chris Sapienza stated, “Public space gun violence is an outrageous threat to the safety of our residents and community members and elicits the strongest response from law enforcement. As these incidents were unfolding in a short period of time, our investigators were quickly piecing everything together to make these arrests and put an end to the violence. Yonkers is a very safe City for our size, and the YPD will always stand watch at the vanguard of public safety to ensure that crime or the fear of crime will never be allowed to degrade our communities – now it is up to the Courts to make sure that these individuals, regardless of age, are held fully accountable to the maximum extent of the law. As always, I thank our partners in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, and the Danbury, Connecticut Police Department for their assistance and collaboration in keeping Yonkers safe from perpetrators of violence.”

In addition to these arrests, the Yonkers Police at the direction of Mayor Mike Spano has increased motor and foot patrols in those areas of the City where many of these incidents have occurred. Residents and community members should expect to see a strengthened presence of both uniform and plain-clothes officers engaged in public safety activities.

Matthew QUINONES was arraigned in Yonkers Criminal Court on June 7th and remanded to the custody of the Westchester County Jail; his next court date is scheduled for June 23rd. Adolescent Offenders 1 through 3 were arraigned and subsequently remanded to a local juvenile detention facility pending their next hearing; due to their ages, no identifying information will be released. The cases are being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Additional information may be released as it becomes available.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is encouraged to contact the Yonkers Police Detective Division at (914) 377-7724 – all calls may remain confidential. Anonymous tips, including gang related intel, can be sent by texting the key word YPD plus the tip to CRIMES (274637); anonymous tips can also be sent to us directly through the Yonkers Police website by clicking on the submit a tip button.

The City of Yonkers and Yonkers Police Department offer their sincere condolences to the family of the victim.

NOTE: Booking charges are merely accusations and the defendant(s) are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.