By Karen Frantz
Two young men from the Rockaways were charged Sunday in the murder of Far Rockaway teen Xavier Granville, who was gunned down outside of his best friend’s party, police and the victim’s family said.
Dashawn Deverow, 21, of 78-00 Shore Front Parkway and Jamane Yarbrough, 16, of 54-09 Almeda Avenue were both arrested and charged with Xavier Granville’s murder, according to the NYPD. Deverow was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon after he was allegedly picked up with a loaded firearm, police said. A spokeswoman for the NYPD said the charges did not specify whether the gun was an AK-47.
Granville was found dead in front of Beach 15th Street and Heyson Road in Far Rockaway, after assailants in ski masks shot the 17-year-old in the head, police and family of the victim said. He had been attending a birthday party for his best friend, relatives said.
Police said they found shell casings from an AK-47 and a .45-caliber pistol at the scene, but it was unclear what type of gun killed him. Police said Saturday morning they suspected some gang involvement .
The teen’s devastated mother, Shikara Granville, described her son as a good young man who could make anybody laugh and dreamed of becoming a marine biologist.
She said she last saw him as he was heading out to his best friend’s party Friday night, where tragedy would later strike.
“He was my baby, he was my child,” she said at her home after identifying her son’s body Saturday morning. “Nobody’s child deserved to get killed like my son got killed.”
Reach reporter Karen Frantz by e-mail at kfrantz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
