BK Man Murdered Teen, Wrongly Accused Him Of Being In Rival Gang: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — A 30-year-old Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 16-year-old boy in an unprovoked attack back in 2018, prosecutors announced.

Ralief Bradford, of East New York, was sentenced Tuesday by Justice Phyllis Chu after he was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon during a jury trial in March, prosecutors said.

On July 15, 2018, at about 5:07 p.m., on Blake Avenue between Euclid Avenue and Pine Street, Bradford and two others individuals approached the victim, Justin Richey, and wrongly accused him of being in a rival gang, prosecutors said.

They then assaulted him, and Bradford took out a gun and shot the victim three times in the torso. Richey collapsed and was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.

Bradford was arrested three days later.

“Justin Richey was brazenly and senselessly shot to death by this defendant in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon. Justin was killed just one day after his 16th birthday. I hope today’s sentence brings a measure of solace to his heartbroken family and friends," District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.