You are reading

Far Rockaway man sentenced to 17 years in fatal shooting of 15-year-old boy

Mar. 22, 2023 By Julia Moro

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on March 22 announced that a Far Rockaway man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the fatal 2018 shooting of a 15-year-old boy who was coming off a city bus in the neighborhood.

According to the charges, around 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, 26-year-old Atekel Donaldson, of Bay 32nd Street, approached 15-year-old Youssef Soliman outside of 46-15 Beach Channel Dr. in Far Rockaway.

Soliman was getting off the bus when Donaldson shot him twice in the hand and torso, killing him, the charges state.

“A teenager’s life was senselessly cut short by gun violence, which continues to steal family, friends and loved ones from our communities,” Katz said in a statement Wednesday. “We cannot relent until we end the plague of illegal guns on our streets.”

Donaldson previously pleaded guilty in December to manslaughter in the first degree, according to the DA’s office.

Justice Kenneth Holder sentenced him to 17 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Recent News

Hate crimes task force probes antisemitic assault on F train in Jamaica Hills: NYPD

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating an antisemitic assault on a subway train in Jamaica Hills during the morning rush on Monday, Jan. 13.

The 27-year-old victim in the attack was onboard a northbound F train that was approaching the Parsons Boulevard subway station at 7 a.m. when a stranger began shouting antisemitic rhetoric at him before he slapped him and then punched him in the face.

Gunman wanted for firing at livery cab in Flushing over fare dispute: NYPD

Police from the 109th Precinct in Flushing are looking for a gunman who opened fire at a livery cab near the Shops at Skyview on Saturday morning.

The suspect was getting dropped off in front of 40-28 College Point Blvd. in Flushing when he got into a dispute with the 63-year-old driver. The two argued about the fare, and the suspect exited the vehicle and started to run away. He was seen on video surveillance pulling out a firearm and firing a shot while on the run that missed the cab and struck the pavement. The driver was not injured, and there was no property damage, an NYPD spokeswoman said Thursday.