By Howard Koplowitz
A college-bound Far Rockaway teen who started on his high school football team was killed last week, allegedly by a rival whom he had fought with since elementary school, police and the New York Post said.
Patrick Hernandez, 18, of 15-02 Mott Ave., in Far Rockaway, was shot once in the chest with a shotgun at around 8:39 p.m. last Thursday in front of 249 Beach 15th St., police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Karon Lenihan, 17, of 38-08 Beach Channel Dr. in Far Rockaway, was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
The Post said Hernandez, and Lenihan were involved in a dispute that dated back to grammar school. The paper said Hernandez was walking with his 16-year-old brother when he was shot.
Hernandez graduated this year from Far Rockaway High School, where he was a starting strong safety and backup quarterback for the football team.
He was headed to SUNY Cortland in upstate New York for college in the fall before his life was cut short, according to the Post.
Walt Wilkerson, the coach of the Far Rockaway football team, could not be reached for comment.
Lenihan was arrested once before, the paper said, for marijuana possession in July 2007.
Hernandez was the third teenager to be murdered in Far Rockaway in the last three months.
In the same week in May, 15-year-old Brendan Bethea and 15-year-old Tyreese Johnson were shot and killed in the neighborhood.
Bethea was killed by a stray bullet as she was walking through the courtyard of the Redfern Houses, while Johnson died after being shot a stone's throw away from Redfern.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
