BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: A 15-year-old lost his life after another teen gunned him down last Monday afternoon, July 17, on 62nd Street near 20th Avenue in Bensonhurst. Cops have now identified the alleged killer of Faridun Mavlonov as Leopoldo Nash. The 17-year-old suspect’s target was reportedly another teenager but his bullet fatally struck Mavlonov.
The victim was soon taken to Maimonides Medical Center after the incident but could not be saved, The New York Post reported. He breathed his last on July 18. Meanwhile, officials involved in the probe are now searching for Nash, who allegedly wanted to shoot someone else after getting into a fight during summer school at Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School.
Who was Faridun Mavlonov?
Mavlonov was reportedly a student of James Madison High School and has been described as a “very peaceful, very calm” person by his grandmother, Umaro Kamalova, who also reportedly said, “God took his life very, very early.” The old woman continued, “He wanted to become the champion of America and show the flag of America to Uzbekistan. We were always very proud of him.”
Kamalova added, “Such young people should not be killed. My grandson should be the last person to die by a bullet in New York City.” Besides, a 15-year-old pal of Mavlonov also remembered him and shared, “He was like a big brother to everyone. He looked out for them.”
The unnamed teen went on to explain, “When you need someone to talk to, he would always be there. Even if you didn’t have money, you’d be like, ‘Yo, I’m hungry,’ he would put you first… Doesn’t matter how he is, if he’s hungry or not. He’ll put you first and make sure he takes care of you.”
‘He was my boy’
Mavlonov’s devastated father Firdavs was inconsolable during his funeral on Thursday, July 20. He said, “I have five kids and he was my boy. He’s helped me with everything. He took care of everything. He was 15. He didn’t see life.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams slammed the senseless crime while attending the funeral. He reportedly said, “Losing our children is an indictment on our entire city and our entire country. We must change that. We must stand up. We must save our children. We are losing too much – and too many.”
In a social media post, Adams added, “Faridun Mavlonov was just 15 years old. He had so much promise. He was a student at James Madison High School. He helped his father in his barbershop. His death is a tragedy. We owe it to his family to turn this pain into purpose and dam the rivers of gun violence for good.”
