Suspect Arrested In Deadly Early Morning Westchester Shooting

YONKERS, NY — Police have charged a Westchester man in connection to an early morning shooting death.

Just before 12:30 a.m. on Monday, the Yonkers Police Department responded to Cliff Street after receiving a report of a man who had been shot.

Arriving officers found a 41-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his chest. Emergency medical care was rendered at the scene, and the victim was rushed to the hospital, but was later pronounced dead.

The victim has since been identified as 41-year-old James Hardy, of Yonkers.

Detectives from the Yonkers Police Major Case Squad and the Crime Scene Unit believe the shooting was a targeted attack that started with an earlier dispute between the suspect and the victim. While engaged in an argument on the sidewalk, the suspect fired at the victim, striking him in the chest before fleeing the scene, according to the investigators.

Detectives identified the suspect as 28-year-old Xavier Palmer, of Yonkers. He was arrested on Monday by detectives with the assistance of Yonkers Police Department's ESU and the FBI Westchester Safe Streets Task Force. Palmer is being charged with second-degree murder, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

"Great work by our Detectives in identifying and apprehending the shooter in this case within just 12 hours of the incident," Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza said. "We will not tolerate senseless violence on our streets. If you commit these acts here, you will be apprehended and delivered to the justice system. We extend our condolences to the victim’s family and friends in this difficult time."