East Harlem Gunman Arrested On Murder Charge, Police Say

EAST HARLEM, NY — A man is facing charges for fatally shooting his neighbor inside the lobby of their East Harlem apartment building, police said.

Raynard Stapleton, 41, was arrested Thursday and charged with murder and criminal weapons possession in connection with the fatal March 5 shooting of 28-year-old East Harlem resident Brandon Vails, police said.

Vails was shot to death inside the lobby of his apartment building on East 127th Street near Park Avenue and blocks from Marcus Garvey Park. When police responded to the building on the night of March 5 they found Vails suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso, an NYPD spokesperson said. Medics rushed the man to Harlem Hospital, but he could not be saved.

Stapleton's listed address is the same East 127th Street building where Vails lived and was shot, police said. The motive for the shooting has not been confirmed.

Stapleton appeared in court on March 20, and his next appearance has not been scheduled, according to New York State court records.