Man Guilty Of Killing Boy, 14, He Thought Was Gang Rival: Queens DA

QUEENS, NY — A Queens man who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy whom he mistook as a rival gang member copped a plea that likely will send him to prison for decades, authorities said.

Sean Brown, 21, pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter and conspiracy charges in connection to the fatal shooting of Aamir Griffin, 14, on a Queens playground.

The October 2019 shooting stemmed from a street war between Brown's Money World gang and rivals Local Trap Stars and Never Forget Loyalty, prosecutors said.

"Warring gangs are not just a threat to each other, but to all of us," said Melinda Katz, district attorney for Queens, in a statement.

"Whether it was the murder of a schoolteacher walking his dog, a mother running out for milk for her children, or, in this case, a youngster playing basketball with friends, mindless gang gun violence has bloodied our streets and broken our hearts."

The gang war began in April 2021 with a slashing, authorities said.

But Griffin escalated the violent recriminations when he spied Griffin playing basketball at Baisley Park Houses and, mistakenly believing him to be a rival gang member, shot at him three times, prosecutors said.

Griffin died after a bullet pierced both of his lungs, authorities said.

The gangs after Griffin's death amped up their war and exchanged gunfire in at least 22 different shootings, prosecutors said.

Brown is expected to receive a 30-year sentence as part of his plea, prosecutors said.