A 14-year-old boy was fatally shot in what police believe was a failed scooter robbery in Queens on Monday afternoon. Authorities identified the victim as Malakai Adams of Averne. The incident occurred around 3:40 p.m. outside 51-24 Beach Channel Drive in the Edgemere neighborhood, an area known for frequent violence.

Emergency medical services transported Adams to Long Island Jewish Children’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Law enforcement officials said the suspect may have opened fire while attempting to steal a scooter. The alleged shooter, described as wearing a black sweater and white shorts, fled the scene on a two-wheeled vehicle heading east on Beach 51st Street. As of Monday night, no arrests had been made.

Residents of Edgemere expressed ongoing concerns about safety. One local, Rhea Lowe, noted that violent incidents occur almost daily but emphasized that Monday’s shooting was especially alarming due to its proximity to a school. “It’s directly across the street from a school. There’s too many young people around. That’s dangerous,” she said. Another neighborhood resident conveyed a sense of resignation to the frequent violence, while a third person said their faith was critical in coping with the deteriorating conditions.

The 101st Precinct, which covers Edgemere, has reported five shootings and six shooting victims in 2026, along with 80 robberies within the same period, according to the latest available data. The fatal shooting of Malakai Adams is part of a broader pattern of gun violence in the area.

Just over a week earlier, on Sunday, September 13, two teenagers and three adults were shot in separate incidents across Queens. Among those victims was a 17-year-old boy who was shot in the chest around 9:15 p.m. behind a NYCHA building on Beach 40th Street near Beach Channel Drive in Far Rockaway, close to the location of Monday’s fatal shooting.

Police continue to investigate these incidents as they work to address the ongoing violence in the community.