A teenager shot dead in SoHo tried to be a peacemaker and was killed for his efforts: the police

The 16-year-old boy shot dead in Soho on Tuesday was senselessly murdered by gang members because he tried to stop two teenage girls from fighting, police officers said on Friday.

Hours after Mahki Brown was tragically shot in a yard between Varick and Spring Streets on May 7, amNewYork Metro reported that the teenager was fatally injured while trying to break up a fight between fellow students at Broome Street Academy finish.

After further investigation, police learned that the timeline of Brown’s death began the previous day, May 6, when two teenage girls passed each other in the school hallway and had a downward stare that led to an altercation after school led.

“They have a fight after school. The fight is broken off, everyone goes their separate ways,” explained Detective Chief Joseph Kenny, noting that the feud was reignited the next day in the Spring Street courtyard. “One of the girl’s brothers intervenes and says, ‘Hey, there’s going to be no fight today.’ “My sister doesn’t fight anyone.” He stands up for his sister and says she doesn’t fight.”

According to police, about 30 children had gathered in the yard to watch the scuffle. One of the fighters then spat at the other, prompting the other youth to declare that she would call her brother in response. A few minutes later, the suspected murderers would arrive at the crime scene.

“Two unknown men arrive at the scene on a Citi bike. One pedals, one sits in the basket,” said Chief Kenny. “Our victim plays the role of peacemaker here. He intervenes and tries to de-escalate the situation. One of the kids on the bike gets a gun and shoots three times.”

Brown – believed to be a friend of the girl’s brother who had originally tried to break up the affair – was shot once in the head and twice in the right femur. The teens scattered and first responders had to try in vain to revive Brown.

“We peered over from the roof and saw him bleeding from his leg and head. They performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” a worker nearby told amNewYork Metro on the day of the murder.

Brown was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:52 p.m. While police believe Brown was just a good kid who suffered trying to break up the fight, authorities believe his killers had gang connections.

Chief Kenny stated that witnesses reported that at least one of the killers yelled “Whoopty,” suggesting they may be connected to the Woo street gang.

Police also said they have identified many other people involved in the incident but are not releasing their names due to their young ages.

Meanwhile, police believe Brown was just trying to do the right thing – and ended up paying the price.

“If you talk to the mother, he’s the guy that would have helped anyone,” Chief Kenny said of Brown.