Federal authorities have charged Faisil McCants, 18, of New York, with armed robbery and the use of a machine gun in connection with an incident that led to the death of a 69-year-old woman in East Harlem. The announcement was made by Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office; and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
According to officials, McCants was arrested following an August 27 event near East 109th Street and Madison Avenue where he and two co-conspirators allegedly robbed a drug dealer before fleeing the scene. During their escape, McCants is accused of firing 15 rounds from a machine gun in broad daylight toward the victim of the robbery. A woman standing nearby with her walker was struck by gunfire and later died at a hospital.
“As alleged, after robbing a drug dealer at gunpoint, Faisil McCants fired a machine gun in the middle of the day on the busy streets of New York City, killing another person,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The death of that wholly innocent bystander, a 69-year-old woman who was merely standing with her walker on the sidewalk in East Harlem, is as tragic as it is senseless. It is unacceptable. Because of the hard work of our partners at HSI and the NYPD and the prosecutors of this Office, McCants will now answer for his alleged crime. This tragic and senseless act shows again we must do all we can to get violent criminals off our streets.”
Ricky J. Patel added: “As a result of this defendant’s allegedly ruthless and utterly reckless violence, an innocent victim was gunned down in broad daylight while simply going about her daily life,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “New Yorkers deserve better—full stop. HSI New York—together with our partners at the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York—will not rest until the other individuals involved are captured and, like this defendant, face the full force of the criminal justice system for their accused, unacceptable crimes.”
Commissioner Tisch commented: “Faisil McCants allegedly armed himself with a machine gun during a robbery and opened fire in broad daylight, killing a 69-year-old mother, grandmother, and beloved East Harlem community member,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Robin Wright was an innocent bystander who lost her life to gun violence—and today, justice was served in her memory. Removing illegal firearms from our streets remains at the forefront of the NYPD’s public safety mission, and we will continue to ensure that those who carry them are held accountable. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators, HSI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their swift work to keep our streets safe.”
McCants faces one count under Hobbs Act robbery statutes carrying up to 20 years imprisonment if convicted; he also faces one count related to using or possessing a machine gun during commission or escape from such crimes—a charge carrying mandatory minimums starting at 30 years up to life imprisonment.
Officials noted that these sentences are set by Congress but final sentencing will be determined by judicial discretion.
The investigation involved cooperation among several agencies including HSI New York Field Office [https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-investigations], NYPD [https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/index.page], Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives [https://www.atf.gov/], U.S Marshals Service [https://www.usmarshals.gov/], as well as state parole authorities.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Alexandra S Messiter & Kathryn Wheelock lead prosecution efforts within SDNY’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit.
Authorities remind that charges against McCants remain allegations until proven otherwise.
