Brooklyn man sentenced to 25 years in East New York murder

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Tuesday that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 16-year-old boy in an unprovoked attack.

The district attorney identified the defendant as Ralief Bradford, 30, of East New York, according to a news release.

The defendant was convicted of second degree murder and second degree criminal possession of a weapon following a jury trial.


According to trial testimony, on July 15, 2018, at approximately 5:07 p.m., on Blake Avenue, between Euclid Avenue and Pine Street, the accused and two unapprehended individuals approached the victim, Justin Richey, and falsely accused him of belonging to a rival gang. . They then assaulted him, and the defendant brandished a gun and shot the victim three times in the torso.


“Justin Richey was gunned down in a brazen and senseless manner by this defendant in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon,” Gonzalez said. “Justin was killed just a day after he turned 16.^th birthday. I hope today's sentence brings some comfort to his heartbroken family and friends.