LIC Man Sentenced To Prison After Death Of Teacher Walking His Dog: DA

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — A man from Long Island City was sentenced to prison after a schoolteacher who was walking his dog was shot dead in July 2020, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said on Friday.

Ike Ford, 19, was sentenced to 19 years in prison after an attempt to shoot a rival gang member led to the death of the 53-year-old teacher George Rosa on July 25, 2020, about 11:20 a.m., prosecutors said.

Ford was 17 when Rosa was shot after he was walking his dog along 40th Avenue, between 21st and 22nd Streets, Katz said.

The then 17-year-old was joined by Delante Aiken when he fired several shots at a rival gang member but missed him and struck Rosa, the district attorney said.

Rosa was rushed to a nearby hospital and died from the gunshot wound 31 days later, prosecutors said.

Ford was arrested a month after the incident after allegedly firing a gun near 40th Avenue and 10th Street, and was then arrested again in August 2021 with Aiken and other gang members, Katz said.