DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Picture/ DelMundo for News
Tyrone Creighton said he nervously watched a gun get passed among five gangbangers before it landed in the hands of a 16-year-old identified as Carvett Gentles.
"And then [he] put his hood on, turned around and started walking toward us," Creighton told the Daily News.
"When I saw him coming at me, I knew they were trying to kill me."
Creighton tried to flee the reputed gang members, but was shot once in the back and once in the shoulder.
And one stray bullet slammed into Vada's skull as she walked home from school Monday, leaving her fighting for her life.
Vada, 15, was taken off a ventilator yesterday but still is in critical condition at Lincoln Hospital.
"I'm so sad about what happened to her," Creighton said. "I feel terrible. She's innocent, like I'm innocent.
"I'm speaking out because that little girl deserves justice."
The five suspects - Gentles; Rohan Francis, 18; Cleve Smith, 20; Clivie Smith, 19, and Dwayne Taylor, 23 - were tossed into jail Thursday on attempted murder charges.
Investigators believe they targeted Creighton over a Rikers Island beef between an inmate gang member and one of his brothers.
A day after he left the hospital, Creighton gave the most detailed account yet of the shooting.
The day, he said, began with the best possible news.
Creighton met with his lawyer in the Bronx and was told that attempted murder charges against him stemming from a July shooting were going to be dropped.
"I told him it was his lucky day," lawyer Martin Galvin said.
Creighton's luck didn't last long.
Creighton said he popped into a deli on Home St. when he was confronted by a man he knew from the neighborhood, Clivie Smith, 18.
"He said, 'Whatever happened between my man and your brothers, let's [settle] it,'" Creighton, his right arm in a sling, recalled. "I didn't know what he was talking about."
Smith followed Creighton outside. Creighton said he noticed four menacing-looking men glaring at him from up the block.
He recognized them from the neighborhood, except Gentles.
As Smith continued to harass him, Creighton said he spotted Taylor try to hand a gun to Francis.
Francis already had one, pulling out the handle from his pants to prove it.
Francis, Gentles' uncle, then passed him his .40-caliber gun, Creighton said.
Fearing for his life, Creighton pushed Clivie Smith into Gentles and sped off. Creighton said Gentles fired at least five shots, with one puncturing his lung.
"I'm angry people tried to make me feel like it's my fault," Creighton said. "I don't know why these guys did this to me."
No comments:
Post a Comment
We appreciates all comments and fosters free speech, however, keep in mind that we have young readers who peruse our site. Having said that, please refrain from using profane language, and know that flaming will not be tolerated. Spam will not be tolerated.