Alleged gang member charged with Father’s Day slaying

A 20-year-old South Jamaica resident and alleged gang member has been charged with the murder of a young father outside his home.
“The victim was a young father who singlehandedly was raising his infant daughter when shortly after celebrating his first Father’s Day his life violently came to an end,” said District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “This crime is another example of mindless gun-related violence that too often takes innocent lives and recklessly endangers public safety.”
Sherwin Thompson, 20, of 160-07 119th Avenue, was arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge Joseph Zayas on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The defendant was ordered held without bail and to return to court on July 2. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
According to the charges, Germaine Persaud, 21, was standing on the sidewalk in front of his house at 119-46 192nd Street at approximately 1 a.m. on June 18 when Thompson, an alleged Bloods gang member, approached him and asked if he had a problem with him. When Persaud replied he didn’t, it is alleged that Thompson turned as if to leave and then wheeled around and fired multiple shots at Persaud, striking him at least three times under the left arm, including once fatally in the heart. Persaud, the father of an 11-month-old girl, managed to run into his house before dying.
Brown said that it is alleged that Thompson admitted to getting a chrome revolver from inside his house shortly after a dispute outside a nearby bodega between two groups of individuals that included both the defendant and the victim.