Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that a 16-year-old male was indicted for murder in the second degree and other crimes in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Kevin Hernandez in Ridgewood on April 22. The shooting took place on the same street as Joseph F. Quinn Intermediate School 77.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this was a senseless act of gun violence by a teenager who had no business with a firearm. The family of this young victim is now grieving the loss of a child. He was just a few minutes from home when a bullet ripped into his chest, killing him. Another teen is facing very serious charges for his alleged actions.”

The defendant, a 16-year-old from Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn, was arraigned today on a grand jury indictment charging him with murder in the second degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and tampering with physical evidence. Queens Supreme Court Acting Justice Bruna DiBiase remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court on June 6. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

According to the charges, on April 22, 2025, at approximately 5:40 p.m., Kevin Hernandez drove a moped on George Street in Ridgewood. At the same time, a group of approximately nine teenagers was walking on Seneca Avenue and turned onto George Street.

Hernandez made a U-turn on George Street and came to a stop in front of 1728 George Street, across the street from Joseph F. Quinn Intermediate School 77. The group of teens continued walking in Hernandez’s direction and as they drew closer, the 16-year-old defendant and another teen stepped into the street.

The defendant allegedly then pulled out a firearm, got into a shooter’s stance and fired at the victim. Hernandez was struck by a bullet, staggered forward and then fell backward. He was taken to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his torso and was pronounced dead.

The defendant and the others fled.

Two 9 mm shell casings were found at the crime scene.

The defendant was also indicted for robbery, assault, grand larceny, petit larceny for an attack on a 17-year-old at the Myrtle Avenue subway station on April 21, 2025, the night before the murder. The defendant and two accomplices allegedly punched and robbed the 17-year-old and took the victim’s sneakers, hat and cellphone.

Assistant District Attorney Eric Weinstein of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorneys Alexa Ornelas and Caitlyn Muldoon under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.