May 10th -- 1 dead & guilty plea in Columbia U. student's death...

An unidentified 29-year-old male was found shot to death inside the elevator at 423 Baltic Street in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn, according to police and a brief in the NY Times. The building is part of the Gowanus Houses, and the body was found at 2 p.m. The male had been shot once in the head. No arrests.

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The 14-year-old boy -- now known as Sheldon J. -- who in April attacked Minghui Yu (photo left), a 24-year-old Asian Columbia University graduate student, causing Yu to run into traffic where he was run over and killed by a passing car, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will be sentenced as a juvenile, according to a story in the NY Post. As a result, Sheldon will be imprisoned no more than 4 years and will be released when he is 18, if not earlier.

Yesterday, Yu's father Zhaofu Yu who, along with Yu's mother, had traveled here from China to recover their son's body, spoke at the boy's sentencing. With tears rolling down his face, he told the judge: "It is the tradition of the Chinese people for their children to support their parents when they grow old. The only thing we will have is deepest sorrow surrounded by bittersweet memories. We have to face every day with the unspeakable grief of the total loss of joy in our lives."

Among those moved to tears was Sheldon and his mother. The boy has been described as a troubled but nice kid by those who know him.

Comments

[John]

If my understanding of the NYS Penal Law is correct, a 14 year old may be charged as an adult in a manslaughter case. In about 4 years he will be out of custody, with a sealed record, no education, no job and his only future includes more criminal activity. This young man will make "Murder Book 2013," if the author doesn't get Carpal Tunnel by then writing about all of these murders.