Murder Charge For Westchester Man In 'Senseless' Early Morning Shooting In Yonkers: DA

YONKERS, NY — A Westchester man will face murder and weapons charges related to the "tragic and senseless" slaying of a Mount Vernon man.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that 29-year-old Xavier Palmer, of Yonkers, was arraigned on Thursday on charges of felony second-degree murder, and felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The charges stem from an indictment related to a shooting death which took place in Yonkers this past summer.

Palmer pleaded not guilty on all charges and was remanded to the Westchester County Jail by the judge.

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On August 11, 41-year-old James Hardy, of Mount Vernon, was shot and killed on Cliff Street in the City of Yonkers. A loaded Glock .9mm handgun was found by Yonkers police at the scene of the shooting.

Following an investigation, police soon arrested Palmer.

"Despite law enforcement efforts to keep violent crime at all-time lows in Yonkers and throughout Westchester, this case is a reminder that our community is still vulnerable to tragic and senseless crimes like this," Cacace said. "I am grateful for the swift arrest made in this case and my hopes are that the prosecution of Xavier Palmer will bring some sense of closure to the victim’s friends and family."