Dramatic arrest in Brooklyn murder of innocent teen whose funeral saw mayor, NYPD commish attend

Rocco Parascandola, Anusha Bayya, Colin Mixson, New York Daily News
Updated ·3 min read
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A teen murderer wanted for slaying 15-year-old Faridun Mavlonov in Brooklyn last year is now in police custody following an international manhunt that led to his capture in Panama, police said Friday.

Leopoldo Nash Montoya, 18, was extradited to the city on Thursday and charged with murder, attempted murder, gun possession and gang assault for gunning down Faridun on July 17, 2023, in Bensonhurst, according to police and prosecutors with the Brooklyn DA’s office.

Faridun and Nash Montoya were among rival crews that met for a pre-arranged brawl on 20th Ave. near 62nd St. to settle a beef from the week prior, then-Chief of Detectives James Essig told the Daily News after the killing.

Nash Montoya and his friends were beating a 16-year-old boy when the defendant drew his pistol around 1 p.m., according to prosecutors.

Surveillance video viewed by the Daily News captured the killer in a black surgical mask and dark hoodie assuming a shooter’s stance, gripping the pistol with both hands before firing seven shots at Faridun and his friends, striking the teen victim once in the back.

The shooter was aiming for the 16-year-old he’d been thrashing moments before when he struck Faridun, prosecutors said.

A teenage survivor said that he saw his friend stumble and then fall as the chaos unfolded.

“I was right next to him when he got shot,” recalled the schoolmate.

Faridun’s friend said that the teen, despite training to become a martial artist, had second thoughts about joining in on the fight.

“At first, he said he just wanted to look at the fight and then he said ‘I may fight’ and then all this happened,” he said.

U.S. authorities worked with Panamanian officials to track down Nash Montoya and the suspected killer was arrested on June 5, police said.

A relative of Faridun said the family was eager for justice in the wake of the teen’s tragic death.

“The culprit must pay,” said Ayat Jorayer, 39, in the days following the killing. “This is an irreplaceable loss. This is why he must, he absolutely must, be brought to justice.”

But the victim’s father said his family is still grieving the loss of Fordiun nearly a year after he was killed, adding that the capture of his alleged killer “can’t bring him back.”

A funeral for Faridun saw Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban join friends and family in mourning the slain teenager.

Faridun’s grandmother, Umaro Kamalov, fainted in the summer heat as she wept for her murdered grandson.

“Why did God take him so soon?” the mourning relative said through a translator. “He wanted to become champion of America … My grandson should be the last person to die by a bullet in New York City.”

Faridun’s family emigrated from Samarkand, Uzbekistan. A martial arts enthusiast, the teen aspired to become a champion fighter.

“He wanted to become champion of America,” said Umaro Kamalov. “God took his life very very early.”

She added, “I will always be proud of him.”

Mayor Adams seized on the teen’s murder as a call to action, saying communities should combat gun violence with religion.

“Now it’s time to turn that pain into purpose, it’s time for us to say we cannot continue to allow the guns to be in on our streets … We need to replace it with the worshippers. We must be present in the communities of our children,” Adams said.