Flatbush man sentenced to 24 years in prison for shooting 13-year-old boy in eye

A 24-year-old man was sentenced earlier this week to 24 years in prison for shooting a 13-year-old boy in the eye in broad daylight while attempting to gun down a rival in 2014.

According to trial testimony, on April 14, 2014, just before noon, the defendant – 24-year-old Kareem Potomont, a Flatbush resident – was standing near Flatbush Avenue and Beverley Road when he opened fire on a 24-year-old man, striking him in the leg. Amidst the gunfire, the 13-year-old boy – who was waiting for a bus with his aunt and cousin – was struck in the right eye by a stray bullet.

Potomont was captured on video shooting the firearm and then fleeing the scene. He was arrested three days later after being found in the basement of a house in Jamaica, Queens.

His intended target was treated for his wound and released, while the child – who has undergone multiple surgeries since the incident – lost vision in his right eye and eventually had it removed.

“The young victim of this senseless shooting, who bravely endured multiple surgeries and lost an eye, will suffer the consequences of it for the rest of his life,” said Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said on Tuesday, October 2. “Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable and should serve as a warning that gun violence such as this will not be tolerated on the streets of Brooklyn.”

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.