Four young gangbangers have been indicted in connection to the Queens shooting death of a 16-year-old girl who found herself in the middle of a clash between rival groups three years ago, prosecutors said.
Messiah Randall and Jomar Pointdujour, both 19, Nicolson Pierrimas, 20 and Zaire Rolley, 21 – all reputed members or associates of the 007 gang – were indicted Wednesday on charges of murder, conspiracy and criminal possession of a weapon in connection to the May 10, 2023 shooting death of Claudia Quatey, 16, in St. Albans, according to the Queens DA’s Office.
The night of the deadly violence, Quatey was with four friends, one of whom planned a “confrontation” with another teen at Locust Manor Park near P.S. 15, prosecutors said.
Quatey’s group – which included a reputed member of the TopOpp gang, rivals to the 007 gang – began to drive off in a blue Hyundai Venue when the four suspects approached their ride, the DA’s office added.
Quatey was sitting in the rear passenger’s seat, directly behind the reputed TopOpp member when Randall and Pierrimas allegedly fired multiple rounds at the Hyundai, prosecutors said.
The Queens High School of Teaching student, who dreamed of becoming a nurse, was in the direct line of fire and was struck in the head.
She spent time on life support before dying of her grave injuries days later.
“Usually I tell her, school days, I don’t want her going out,” her father, Albert Quaatey, 65, told The Post at the time. “It wasn’t late, but still. They always called me old-school, but there are these kinds of problems. Too many younger people are being killed. I tried, but how much can you do?”
Claudia is one of six siblings, and was described by her dad as “very loving.”
Her aunt, Benita Bortey, said she was “always compassionate towards others” and “the first to offer help whenever needed.”
“In her free time, Claudia enjoyed running track, dancing, styling hair, and spending time with family and friends,” Bortey posted on a GoFundMe page.
Randall, a.k.a. “Siah,” Pierrimas, a.k.a “Smuddy,” and Rolley were ordered held without bail by Queens Supreme Court Justice Bruna DiBiase.
Pointdujour, a.k.a “JoJo,” is in custody on another matter and his arraignment will happen later, the DA’s office said.
All four, who were juveniles when the shooting happened, could spend 25 years to life behind bars if convicted.
“As alleged, the four defendants acted in concert to plan and carry out the murder of a perceived gang rival when they instead shot and killed 16-year-old Claudia Quatey,” Queens DA Melinda Katz said in a statement. “Gang violence terrorizes neighborhoods, puts innocent people at risk and leaves lasting trauma for families and communities for decades.”
“We will hold the defendants accountable for this senseless tragedy and continue to work with our law-enforcement partners to dismantle gangs in this borough.”