You are reading

Cops Nab Suspect Wanted for Fatal Shooting of 10-Year-Old Justin Wallace in Rockaways

10-year-old Justin Wallace was killed in a shooting Saturday (Photo via Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers)

June 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin

A man was arrested and charged with murder Tuesday for the fatal shooting of 10-year-old Justin Wallace in Edgemere Saturday.

Police cuffed Jovan Young, 29, for allegedly shooting Wallace and Wallace’s 29-year-old cousin Saturday night as the pair exited a home on Beach 45th Street.

Wallace was struck by a bullet in the torso and died, police said. His cousin, who lived in the house, was hit in the shoulder and survived.

Young’s arrest yesterday came on the same day that Wallace would have turned 11 years old.

Wallace and his parents were at the Edgemere house for a family barbeque at the time of the shooting.

The 10-year-old was walking out the front door with his cousin when Young allegedly ran up and sprayed the house with bullets at around 9:30 p.m.

The young boy, who was a fifth-grader at Challenge Preparatory Charter School, was rushed to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, but couldn’t be saved. His cousin was brought to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in stable condition, police said.

Young lived about a half-mile away from the house, where he allegedly shot Wallace and his cousin.

He was charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.


Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who knew the Wallace family, said he was grateful for the arrest.

“We feel some relief to see an arrest in this case,” he wrote on Twitter. “This will not bring Justin back, but I hope this brings some closure to Justin’s family and friends. This is hopefully a step forward to justice.”

Family and friends have since turned the scene of the crime into a memorial for Wallace. They tied balloons to the railing outside the home and lit candles on Tuesday, in recognition of his birthday.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

2 Comments

Click for Comments 
COCED

Although the syntax is a little confusing, the message is quite clear and right. And the answer to that rhetorical question is simple – never. Politicians and other big mouths will exploit this to their deaths (sorry)

Reply
Sara Ross

A beautiful, sweet 10 year old boy is killed by a black man. When are the politicians and other big mouths going to stop denying that crimes are committed by those blacks who are yelling, destroying property, robbing businesses and attacking law enforcement officers while fighting for fairness towards black ARE blacks??

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

LGBTQ+ advocate calls for passage of GIRDS Act

Sep. 18, 2025 By Jimmy Robles

It has been several years since lawmakers first introduced the Gender Identity Respect, Dignity and Safety (GIRDS) Act in 2021. Various organizations, including the Trans Immigrant Project (TrIP) of Make The Road New York, have called on state legislators in Albany to protect and end discrimination against TGNCNBI (transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary and intersex) people in state and local correctional facilities.

College Point man charged with arson, attempted murder for allegedly starting 2-alarm house fire: NYPD

One of the five civilians rescued by the FDNY from a 2-alarm house fire in College Point on Friday morning was arrested later in the day for allegedly starting the blaze in his first-floor apartment.

Jonathan Mejia, 33, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16 on a complaint charging him with arson in the first degree, four counts of attempted murder in the second degree and other related charges.