Gunman arrested in Queen house party shooting that killed aspiring business owner
Cops have captured the gunman they say fatally shot an aspiring businessman at a Queens house party in August.
Devante Richards, of Brooklyn, was arrested Wednesday for the Aug. 9 backyard shooting on 183rd St. near 146th Terrace in Springfield Gardens.
Richards had opened fire during a fight, hitting victim Jonathan Distant in the lower back as he scrambled for cover. The Bronx man was taken by private means to Jamaica Hospital where he died, cops said.
The slain man’s brother, Stefon Distant, said in a statement that his family was grateful for the arrest.
“I am happy that he’s off the street and not able to bring heartache to another mother and family due to senseless immoral actions,” the brother said.
Richards was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, and ordered held without bail at his Thursday arraignment.
He has been arrested over the years for assault and resisting arrest, among other crimes, police said.
Jonathan Distant, 25, drove a yellow cab, and had just gotten a business degree from Monroe College with the hopes of owning his own taxi company, relatives said.
“That dream of his was taken away because of some stupid altercation that made no difference,” his brother said in August. “He wasn’t the type of person that wanted to work for someone else, he wanted to work for himself. He had a very entrepreneurial spirit. He was trying to figure out where to place all that energy. All he needed was time.”
Witnesses and surveillance video helped police identify Richards, 27, as the shooter. It’s not clear if he was targeting Distant.
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