Long island teen who shot boy on train captured in virginia

A 19-year-old Levittown man accused of shooting a 15-year-old boy aboard a Manhattan-bound A train has been returned to New York and ordered held without bail.

Queens, NY – A Long Island teenager accused of shooting a 15-year-old boy aboard a Manhattan-bound A train in Queens has been extradited from Virginia and arraigned on attempted murder and weapons charges. Prosecutors said Matthew Rodriguez, 19, of Levittown, allegedly fired multiple shots during a fight between the victim and a co-defendant on April 27, leaving the teenager hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Key Points

• Matthew Rodriguez was arraigned on attempted murder, assault and weapons charges in Queens County.

• Prosecutors allege he shot a 15-year-old boy during a fight aboard a Manhattan-bound A train.

• Rodriguez was arrested in Newport News, Virginia, on May 21 and extradited back to New York.

Rodriguez appeared before Queens Supreme Court Justice Bruna DiBiase on Thursday and was remanded into custody. If convicted on the top charge, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Shooting followed subway altercation

According to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m. as an A train traveled between the 105th Street and 80th Street stations. Investigators said the victim approached Rodriguez and a 16-year-old co-defendant while moving between subway cars.

Authorities allege the co-defendant, a Far Rockaway resident, became involved in a physical altercation with the victim stemming from an earlier shooting incident in February. Prosecutors said the fight lasted about six minutes before a bystander attempted to separate the two teenagers.

During the struggle, Rodriguez allegedly removed a handgun from a holster strapped to the co-defendant’s ankle and opened fire. The victim was struck in the back and neck, and prosecutors contend Rodriguez fired again after the teenager fell to the floor of the train.

Victim remains hospitalized

Both suspects allegedly fled immediately after the shooting. Emergency responders transported the injured teenager to a local hospital, where he remains under treatment.

Prosecutors said the victim is confined to a hospital bed and is currently unable to walk due to his injuries. District Attorney Melinda Katz described the shooting as another example of ongoing youth gun violence affecting New York City communities.

“As alleged, defendant Rodriguez was under no immediate threat, nor was he directly engaged in the physical altercation when he fired two shots into the victim at point-blank range,” Katz said in a statement announcing the indictment.

Arrests made weeks apart

The 16-year-old co-defendant was arrested at his Far Rockaway home on April 29 by members of the NYPD Warrant Squad. He has been indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Rodriguez remained at large until May 21, when members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested him in Newport News, Virginia. He was returned to New York on Wednesday night ahead of his arraignment.

The case is being investigated by detectives assigned to the NYPD’s 103rd Precinct Detective Squad and the Queens Felony Warrant Squad. Queens prosecutors credited the District Attorney’s Extraditions Unit with helping secure Rodriguez’s return to face the charges.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

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.