Queens gang member sentenced to 21 years for deadly shooting outside Springfield Gardens McDonald’s

Posted by
1 min read
August 1, 2025

SPRINGFIELD GARDENS, N.Y. — A reputed gang member has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for fatally shooting an 18-year-old in a fast food restaurant parking lot last fall, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Thursday.

Rayvon Phillip, 19, of Springfield Gardens, pleaded guilty on July 14 to first-degree manslaughter for the September 27, 2024, shooting that killed Akim Cisse. Phillip, known as “Ray-G” and linked to the BG4 gang, fired multiple shots into a gray Nissan Altima outside a McDonald’s on South Conduit Avenue, striking Cisse in the back of the head.

Cisse, a recent high school graduate who had just celebrated his 18th birthday, was one of four occupants in the vehicle. He was taken to a nearby hospital but died after losing brain function.

“This defendant indiscriminately fired into a car filled with people, killing Akim Cisse who had just celebrated his 18th birthday,” said District Attorney Katz.

Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder sentenced Phillip to 21 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss