Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the prison sentence of JINIYE HOOKS, 19, for fatally shooting 14-year-old Justin Streeter, and injuring a 15-year-old boy in East Harlem. HOOKS was sentenced to 20 years-to-life in state prison. He previously pleaded guilty in a New York State Supreme Court to one count of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree on March 5, 2024.
“A 14-year-old child lost his life due to this horrific act of gun violence,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Mr. Streeter was beloved not only by his family, but his entire community. He had a bright future ahead of him that was tragically taken away and his loved ones are continuing to grieve his loss. There is nothing we can do to undo the pain they are experiencing, but I hope this lengthy prison sentence allows them to move forward and end this difficult chapter.”
As admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, and according to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on July 19, 2022, at approximately 4:20 p.m., the two boys exited a deli near East 128th Street and Park Avenue. HOOKS, who was approaching the intersection, saw the boys, pulled out a firearm, and began shooting multiple times towards them. As the boys tried running away, HOOKS shot Mr. Streeter in the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground. HOOKS also shot the 15-year-old in his left leg but the boy was able to flee down the block, to the safety of a building lobby. Mr. Streeter was pronounced dead at the hospital.
HOOKS immediately fled the scene. He was arrested nearly a week later.
Assistant D.A.s Michael McIntosh and Matthew Sears handled the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. David Hammer (Chief of Trial Bureau 70) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Senior Trial Counsel Peter Casolaro and Supervising Major Case Analyst Sasha Hodson provided valuable assistance in this case.
D.A. Bragg thanked the members of the NYPD, in particular, Detectives Edward Stackpole, Michael Jeanbart and Jean Francisco, as well as their fellow members of the Homicide and Shooting Enhancement Team; Police Officer of the City-Wide Community Response Team Racine Otway (formerly of PSA 5), Detective Scott DiBisceglio (Amtrak Police Department); and the detectives and patrol officers of the 25th Precinct.
Defendant Information:
JINIYE HOOKS
Manhattan, NY
Convicted:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
Sentenced:
- 20 years-to-life in state prison
Convicted:
- Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
Sentenced:
- 10 years in state prison (concurrent)
###