Young man sentenced for fatal shooting of innocent teen in Bed-Stuy

June 16, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

The Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, located at 320 Jay St. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

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A young man was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years to life for fatally shooting a 16-year-old boy who was walking with his girlfriend in Bedford-Stuyvesant. According to the investigation, Justin Delapara, 21, of Bed-Stuy, had approached the victim, Latrell Brown, 16, around 1:48 p.m. on Macon Steet and Lewis Avenue on July 11, 2018. Delapara displayed a handgun and shot Brown in the head, killing him. Delapara was arrested shortly afterward.

Delapara pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on May 23, 2022. Delapara’s sentencing hearing was presided over by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Tomlinson.

Latrell Brown was a student at Brooklyn Law and Technical High School where he was scheduled to begin his senior year at the time he was killed. He was a shooting guard for the Brooklyn Ballers as well as for his high school team.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant senselessly took the life of an innocent teenager, Latrell Brown, who was a talented shooting guard and captain of his basketball team, the Brooklyn Ballers. Latrell had his whole life ahead of him and his death devastated his family, friends and classmates. My heart continues to be with his loved ones, and I hope that today’s sentencing brings them some measure of solace.”

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph Bianco, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.