3 Syracuse teenagers charged for shooting 15 year old friend while aiming at another group

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Three 16-year-old boys are charged in the murder of Deron McGee Jr., were arrested on Tuesday by Syracuse Police.

According to prosecutors, McGee was shot in the back of the head by at least one of the three teenagers. He was sitting in the same car as the shooters, becoming the apparent unintended target as the others attempted a drive-by shooting on Westmoreland Avenue.

Syracuse Police said in court paperwork that on August 12, all four teenagers were in a stolen Hyundai Sonata. As the vehicle travelled down the 200 block of Westmoreland Ave, the three 16-year-old's began firing handguns at a group of pedestrians outside of the troubled Parkside Commons Apartment Complex.

McGee was sitting in the back seat of that same Hyundai, suffering a gunshot to the head in the barrage of gunfire. Onondaga County District Attorney Robert Moran said that the pedestrians were not returning fire, and that McGee was hit just once. Moran said that McGee was friends with the shooters, though he himself did not have a gun.

Community and family prays for recovery of 15-year-old shot in Syracuse

Just before 11 p.m. that night, McGee was dropped off at Upstate Hospital by a private vehicle, according to police. He died about nine days later.

All three 16-year-olds are charged with second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. All three were arraigned Wednesday morning and are held without bail. Officials will not release their names at this time due to their age.