Mayor Thomas Statement on Federal Indictment in Shamoya McKenzie Shooting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Maria Donovan
MayorThomasPressOffice@gmail.com
MEDIA ADVISORY
Mayor Thomas Statement on Federal Indictment in Shamoya McKenzie Shooting
Mayor Applauds Mount Vernon Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation
(Thursday, December 21, 2017) — Today, Mayor Richard Thomas released a statement heralding the indictment of four reputed gang members in connection with the 2016 murder of 13-year-old Shamoya McKenzie.
Mayor Richard Thomas said, “The loss of Shamoya McKenzie broke our hearts and strengthened our resolve to clear our community of illegal guns, drugs, and the despair they bring. Our partnerships with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State of New York, and a diverse coalition of law enforcement organizations has bolstered Mount Vernon’s ability to strike back at evil acts and holding the individuals responsible accountable for their cowardly actions.
We thank the Department of Justice for their vigilance in wrangling known criminals into court to face the music from their wrap-sheet. Without their assistance, crimes of past would have gone unanswered against the backdrop of a street culture “no-snitching” silence. The work of our Community Policing efforts is paying dividends, stepping into the void left behind by deplorable gang members, to provide positive role-model examples for our kids and show them a different path in life.
We have come a long way as a city since Shamoya’s loss and we will always carry her memory and promise with us as we work to never, ever, witness something like this happening again.
Our hearts remain with Shamoya’s mother, Nadene, and the entire McKenzie family. Their pain and sacrifice can never be fully known, but it will always be felt for years to come. We pray for their strength, solace and fortitude as we journey with them forward.”
The Shamoya McKenzie Foundation
Celebration of Life of Shamoya McKenzie
Saturday, December 30, 2017 3PM Prayer at The Location Where Shamoya Was Murdered
4–6PM Service at Macedonia Baptist Church
&
Sunday, December 31, 2017 11AM at the Bronxwood International Church of God
3232 Lurting Avenue, Bronx, NY
