Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez on Tuesday said a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 16-year-old boy in an unprovoked attack.
The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ralief Bradford, 30, of East New York, according to a news release.
The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a jury trial.
According to trial testimony, on July 15, 2018, at approximately 5:07pm, on Blake Avenue between Euclid Avenue and Pine Street, the defendant and two unapprehended individuals approached the victim, Justin Richey, and wrongly accused him of being in a rival gang. They then assaulted him, and the defendant brandished a gun and shot the victim three times in the torso.
“Justin Richey was brazenly and senselessly shot to death by this defendant in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon," Gonzalez said. "Justin was killed just one day after his 16th birthday. I hope today’s sentence brings a measure of solace to his heartbroken family and friends.”
