QUEENS, NY — Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the sentencing of Sean Brown to 30 years in prison for the mistaken-identity shooting death of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin at a South Jamaica playground in 2019, along with an unrelated weapon possession charge.
Brown, 21, of Jamaica, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree, conspiracy in the second degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder imposed the sentence today, allocating 25 years for manslaughter, and concurrent sentences of five to 15 years for conspiracy and five years for weapon possession.
On the evening of October 26, 2019, Griffin was playing basketball at the Baisley Park Houses when Brown, a reputed member of the Money World gang, mistakenly identified him as a rival gang member and fired three shots, one fatally wounding Griffin. This tragic event was part of a larger series of violent acts linked to a feud between local gangs, which culminated in one of the largest gang takedowns by the Queens District Attorney’s Office in March 2023.
District Attorney Katz emphasized the ongoing impact of gang violence on communities and pledged continued efforts to combat illegal gun possession and enhance public safety.