Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Wednesday, April 23, that Bronx man Matthew Godwin, 18, was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison for second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 11-year-old innocent bystander, Kyhara Tay, in May 2022 in the Foxhurst section of The Bronx, as reported.

 

“Kyhara never had the chance to grow up,” Clark said. “She was an innocent 11-year-old girl who was killed when  the defendant, 15 years old at the time, started shooting at a 13-year-old boy.”

She continued, “Her death is a profound tragedy, especially considering the ages of everyone involved. Today’s sentence is the culmination of justice, but this is not the final chapter of Kyhara’s life story. Her family turned their pain into purpose by speaking out against gun violence. Through their voice, Kyhara’s legacy will live on.”

 

Clark said Godwin of Bronx Park South was sentenced by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack, adding that he had pleaded guilty to the charge on March 6.

According to the investigation, at 4:48 p.m., on May 16, 2022, Godwin, along with Omar Bojang, 21, was riding on a motorized scooter driven by Bojang on Westchester Avenue in Longwood, looking for a rival gang member. The court heard that Bojang drove the scooter onto the sidewalk and upon seeing the 13-year-old target, Godwin fired two shots from a handgun from the back of the scooter.

 

One of the rounds struck Kyhara in the stomach as she was waiting for her friends outside a nail salon on Westchester Avenue and Fox Street. She died that night at Lincoln Hospital. Prosecutors said Bojang pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on March 6, and will be sentenced to 15 years in prison and 5 years post-release supervision on May 14.

Police had previously sought the public’s help identifying the people seen in the attached video, posted on X, who they said were sought in connection with the shooting.

 

City Councilman Rafael Salamanca (C.D. 17), currently running for the role of Bronx borough president, said on May 18, 2022, at a vigil for Kyhara, attended by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, the district attorney and others, “As a father, I am heartbroken and I am angry! Our city streets have turned into a war zone and the lives of innocent children have been robbed because of it. Enough is enough! We can no longer offer these families thoughts and prayers; we need to give them justice!”

He continued, “Today the community showed up! We showed up to demand justice for Kyhara Tay. We showed up to grieve with the Tay Family, and we showed up to offer one another strength during this crisis. Together we’re hurting, but together we will rise.”

For her part, the borough president, who is running for reelection, said in part after the 2022 vigil, “With a heavy heart, I joined with Council Member Rafael Salamanca, District Attorney Darcel Clark and my other colleagues in government alongside our anti-gun violence advocates in calling attention to the senseless death of 11-year-old Kyhara Tay.” 

On May 20, 2022, police said a 15-year-old male had been arrested on charges of murder, manslaughter and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the incident. On the same day, police also asked for the public’s assistance identifying the person seen in the attached video who they said was wanted for questioning regarding Kyhara’s murder.

On Monday, May 23, 2022, the day of Kyhara’s wake, which was attended by Mayor Eric Adams, the NYPD announced that Bojang, 18, of the West Farms section of The Bronx, had been arrested in connection with Kyhara’s murder, and had been charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.

 

The case was prosecuted by Senior Homicide Counsel John Miras under the supervision of Burim Namani, deputy chief of the Homicide Bureau, Christine Scaccia, chief of the Homicide Bureau, and under the overall supervision of James Brennan, deputy chief of the Trial Division and Theresa Gottlieb, chief of the Trial Division.

She was 11-years-old.

Someone knows the individuals in this video of Fox St. in The Bronx.

Come forward to help @NYPDDetectives arrest those responsible for this murder & bring some amount of justice to this girl’s family. Call @NYPDTips at #800577TIPS. pic.twitter.com/DCojvxVZke

— Jessica S. Tisch (@NYPDPC) May 17, 2022

 

Clark thanked Assistant District Attorney Stephen Russo, supervisor of the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau for his assistance with the case.

 

She also thanked NYPD Detective Naser Dzaferovic of the 41st Precinct Squad, NYPD Detective Peter Quatrale of the Gun Violence Suppression Division, and NYPD Detective Robert Cintron of Bronx Homicide for their assistance with the investigation.