A Bronx gang member has been charged with the murder of 18-year-old rapper Jayquan McKenley in a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn in 2022, prosecutors said.

 

Edward Y. Kim, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, William S. Walker, special agent in charge of the New York field office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); and Jessica Tisch, NYPD police commissioner, announced, on Dec. 19, the unsealing of an indictment charging Paul Johnson, a/k/a “PJ Glizzy,” with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and a firearms offense.

 

 

They said the charges relate to Johnson’s membership in a Bronx-based street gang known as the “Original Goonz,” or “OGz.” As alleged, on Feb. 6, 2022, Johnson was shot and killed 18-year-old drill music rapper, Jayquan McKenley outside a recording studio in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. They said Johnson, who was in NYC Department of Correction (DOC) custody, was transferred to federal custody earlier on Dec. 19 and made his initial appearance in federal court in Manhattan. They added that the case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.

 

In the context of the annoucement, Kim said, “Jayquan McKenley’s death was senseless. As alleged, Paul Johnson murdered him as part of a dispute between rival gangs. We hope that today’s charges bring some measure of comfort to McKenley’s family and make clear that this office and our law enforcement partners will never stop investigating those who commit violence on our streets.”

 

For his part, Walker said, “Paul Johnson’s alleged ruthless murder of Jayquan McKenley sent shockwaves through our Brooklyn neighborhoods and shone a light on the level of senseless violence committed by street gangs in New York City. Today’s indictment is the result of the relentless work and determination of HSI New York’s Violent Gang Task Force. The streets are made safer everyday thanks to the dedication of New York’s local, state, and federal law enforcement who work together to obtain justice for victims of violent crime.”

 

According to the allegations in the indictment, unsealed on Dec. 19 in Manhattan federal court, other court documents, and statements made during court proceedings, from at least 2019 up to and including December 2024, Johnson was a member of the “Original Goonz,” or “OGz” street gang, based in The Bronx. In order to fund the gang, protect its territory, and promote its standing, members of the OGz engaged in, among other things, narcotics trafficking and other acts of violence, including murder.

 

Prosecutors said that on Feb. 6, 2022, Johnson and others allegedly murdered McKenley in the drive-by shooting in Brooklyn, when McKenley was 18 years old. As reported, New York City Mayor Eric Adams weighed in on the influence of drill rap on crime in New York City at the time, and called on social media companies to ban drill music after McKenley, aka Chii Wvttz, was killled.

 

Johnson, 23, of The Bronx, is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of life in prison; one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum term of life in prison or death; one count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison; and one count of use, carrying, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison to run consecutive to any other term imposed and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

 

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in the case are prescribed by Congress and are provided for informational purposes only. Any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

 

Kim praised what he said was the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD. The case is being handled by the Violent and Organized Crime Unit of the Southern District of New York prosecutor’s office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick R. Moroney is leading the prosecution.

 

Johnson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.