New York Teen Who Killed Bronx Student While on Probation on Charges of Armed Robbery Freed Again

According to a Bronx court, a gang member who allegedly killed an innocent college student while on probation was released from prison once more, owing to problematic testimony from investigators in his case.

As stated in court papers acquired by The Washington Post, Steven Mendez, 17, was released Tuesday after a judge decided prosecutors and investigators mishandled their case before the grand jury.

Teen Accused of Shooting Student Last Year Released From Jail

As per documents, Supreme Court Justice Naita Semaj determined during grand jury sessions that detectives presented problematic and improper testimony, which prejudiced Mendez and denied him a fair trial. Former Manhattan prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney Mark Bederow termed the decision to release Mendez "nearly unprecedented," calling it "shocking."

The Bronx District Attorney's Office has 45 days from the date of the judgment to re-present its case to a grand jury, which it intends to do, according to a spokeswoman.

Two detectives who investigated the murder described to jurors how they concluded that Mendez, who had been released on probation five months before the Oct. 24, 2021 killing, was the suspected real murderer, according to New York Post.

Haja Kaira, Koma's mother, believes the court is sending the wrong message because crime in New York is up 42% over last year. An NYPD detective erroneously identified Mendez as Koma's killer, according to Judge Semaj-Williams since he "never suggested that he had prior encounters with Mendez sufficient to provide a foundation for identification."

To persuade the jurors, detectives used CCTV footage that did not show the actual incident. They recognized him as someone with a white cloth patch on the back of his jeans at one time.

The court ruled that the same individual they recognized as Mendez did not wear the patch at another time. Furthermore, when reviewing the film, another investigator offered her ideas, conclusions, and characterizations, denying the jury the opportunity to form its own opinion.

College Student Was a Victim of Mistaken Identity Case

In a case of mistaken identity, Mendez reportedly shot Koma in the head in the Fordham Heights area in October. Koma attended Manhattan Community College and worked part-time as a delivery driver. His parents came from Sierra Leone and Gambia, respectively.

His family claims that he was never in trouble. His mother Haja told the New York Daily News, "He's not troublesome. He'd go to school, do his little job, you know?"

Semaj-Williams freed Sharif Mitchell, 17, on his recognizance, even though another judge had ordered him detained on a $30,000 bond during his hearing. Mitchell faces attempted murder charges for reportedly opening fire on a subway station and shooting a 19-year-old man four times.

Semaj-Williams has a small kid and a stepson and is married to a prison officer. Her current term, which began on January 1, began on January 1 and will finish in 2035. Williams has been free on bail since late January, suspected of being a gang member. He is accused of criminal possession of a firearm, second-degree assault, and other weapons charges coming from an incident on January 18 in which he allegedly shot Officer Kaseem Pennant while being searched.

New York City's crime rate is up 42% from the previous year. As the city confronts an increase in crime that began during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, shooting victims are up 8.6%. Mayor Eric Adams chastised his Democratic colleagues over the weekend for only supporting Black Lives Matter when officers are involved in the deaths of African-Americans, Daily Mail reported.