What to Know
- A Manhattan man has been arrested in Sunday's smoke shop killing, which left a 36-year-old man dead on the floor with two gunshot wounds; the suspect was apprehended early Tuesday
- Cops say he's the same man who allegedly killed a 19-year-old in East Harlem a day before the smoke shop violence -- and he was indicted for attempted murder of NYPD officers back in February 2021
- The latest violence has Harlem residents fed up. As one woman lamented, "Why you got to be killing each other? We don't need this. It's time for peace"
A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the gruesome execution-style slaying of a 36-year-old in a Harlem smoke shop, and authorities allege that wasn't even his first killing of the weekend.
The NYPD said Tuesday that Messiah Nantwi, of Manhattan, had been arrested on charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the brazen shooting, which played out in front of nearly a half-dozen terrified witnesses in a Lenox Avenue smoke shop Sunday evening. The whole thing was captured on store surveillance cameras.
Also Tuesday, the NYPD said the same suspect was charged with murder in a Saturday afternoon shooting in East Harlem. In that case, a 19-year-old was shot in the head near Madison Avenue and East 132nd Street. It was broad daylight out -- not even 4 p.m. -- and the victim was pronounced dead at a hospital. The circumstances weren't clear.
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As for the smoke shop victim, the NYPD identified him Tuesday as Brandon Brunson, of Brooklyn. Sunday's horror developed after an apparent argument between him and Nantwi, according to police and security video. Nantwi allegedly shot Brunson in the head, then saw him moving and fired again before walking casually out of the store.
Investigators said a CrimeStoppers tip led them to Nantwi. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.
This past weekend's shooting arrests aren't his first, either. According to the NYPD, Nantwi is the same man who allegedly opened fire on officers during a graffiti stop in February 2021. Nantwi was 18 at the time. According to the indictment, Nantwi fired three shots at two officers and a sergeant, who returned 31 shots, hitting him multiple times.
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The then-18-year-old was charged with attempted murder of police officers. None of the cops were hurt. Nantwi was hospitalized for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds at the time.
Asked about the status of that case Tuesday, the Bronx district attorney's office said it was pending. A spokesperson said Nantwi made $30,000 bail after a judge set bond at $500,000 at the request of the defense. It wasn't clear when he was released.
Criminal justice reform advocates said that if Nantwi was never let out on bail, then his two alleged victims might still be alive.
"We have warned for years that perps who are bold enough to attack New York City police officers won’t think twice about attacking regular New Yorkers. Sadly, this case proves it," said Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch. "We cannot keep putting cold-blooded criminals back on the streets. It’s dangerous for cops, and dangerous for the public we serve."
Either way, the latest incident has residents fed up with the violence in their community.
"I don't understand why they can't just talk things out. Why you got to be killing each other?" lamented one woman. "We don't need this. It's time for peace. Sometimes people got to come together."
