Cops arrest man who shot basketball star
Shooter allegedly killed 17-year-old Brandon Hendricks, recent HS grad
BY JENNA BAGCAL
On July 6, police arrested
the shooter accused of killing
17-year-old Bronx basketball
star, Brandon Hendricks,
a recent high school
graduate ready to start a college
hoops career.
The suspect in the fatal
June 28 shooting was 22-yearold
Najhim Luke, whom police
identifi ed on their offi
cial Twitter account last
Friday. The New York Post
reported that Hendricks had
just graduated from James
Monroe High School a week
before he was tragically
killed.
On Twitter, police announced
that Luke was
wanted for questioning in
regards to Hendricks’ shooting.
On June 28 just before
midnight, police responded
to a 911 call about a male who
was shot in Morris Heights
in the confi nes of the 46th
Precinct. When cops arrived
on Davis Avenue, they found
Hendricks with a gunshot
Brandon Hendricks Photo courtesy of James Monroe High School/Instagram
wound to his neck.
EMS personnel transported
him to Saint Barnabas
Hospital, where the teen
was pronounced dead.
Police arrested Luke on
the morning of July 6 and
charged him with murder,
manslaughter and criminal
possession of a weapon.
BRONX TIMES R 6 EPORTER, JULY 10-16, 2020 BTR
Eve Hendricks, the teen’s
mom, took to Facebook in a
tribute to her “perfect son.”
“He was my perfect son
and I am very VERY PROUD
to be his mother and I would
do it all over again and I’ll do
anything for him,” she said
in a Facebook post.
James Monroe High
School head basketball coach
Nigel Thompson posted a
tribute to the rising star,
calling him a “charismatic,
humble young man” who
“listened and respected everyone.”
“He Hendricks was
an awesome team mate.
Thoughtful, kind and caring.
Full of life and positivity.
I’ve never met anyone
who had anything bad to
say about him. He was a remarkable
basketball player.
Incredible handle and quickness.
He was our leader on
and off the fl oor for the past 2
seasons,” said Thompson.
In the tribute, Thompson
said it was the community’s
job to fi nd the end to “senseless”
violence and deaths and
to also help “young brothers”
value their lives and the
lives of others.
Reports said that Hendricks
was slated to play basketball
at St. John’s University
in Queens this fall.
Get your child up to date
on routine vaccinations now,
Call your child’s doctor today to make an appointment.
If you need to fi nd a doctor, call 311.
Your child may be eligible for free medical care,
regardless of your immigration status.
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Oxiris Barbot, MD
Commissioner
not later.
Vaccines are safe, essential, and they protect your
child from illness and underlying health conditions.
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