The teenager who allegedly gunned down a beloved mother throughout a botched theft inside her Manhattan residence constructing final month will likely be tried as an grownup, prosecutors mentioned Wednesday.
Dante Schaller, 16, was indicted on homicide and theft costs for the gutless killing of 57-year-old Ying Zhu Liu on the Twin Bridges constructing on Sept. 9, the Manhattan District Legal professional’s Workplace mentioned.
The DA’s workplace confirmed that Schaller, who turned 16 simply days earlier than the deadly taking pictures, will likely be prosecuted as an grownup.
The teenager wore a black gown shirt and blue tie as he pleaded not responsible at his Wednesday arraignment earlier than Manhattan Supreme Court docket Decide Stephen Antigani.
Prosecutors have mentioned that Schaller and a still-at-large confederate wore masks to cover their faces once they adopted Liu’s husband, Shen Yan, into the Market Avenue condominium’s elevator round 10:50 p.m. and pulled a handgun on him to rob him.
When the elevator reached the eighth flooring — the place Yan’s household lives — the dad noticed his son ready for him within the hallway and warned him to “keep again” because the robbers had a gun, in line with prosecutors.
The son, 32-year-old Lin Rong Yan, tried to assist earlier than he was pistol-whipped by one of many suspects.
His mother heard the ruckus within the hallway and stepped in to intervene — however one of many muggers raised the gun and fired a single shot at Liu’s face from three ft away, in line with a felony criticism.
Liu, a house well being aide, was pronounced useless on the scene.
Schaller and his confederate had been captured on surveillance video from a close-by deli carrying the identical clothes they wore shortly earlier than the alleged homicide — however with out their masks on, prosecutors have mentioned.
The teenager was recognized by a crimson hoodie he allegedly wore in the course of the homicide, which was later discovered by investigators once they swept his East 167th Avenue house, authorities mentioned.
Police additionally found one reside 9mm spherical at his house — and so they additionally recovered a 9mm shell from a step within the stairwell the place the alleged killing occurred.
Schaller, who had turned 16 on Sept. 11, has an open felony case for assaulting a police officer, in line with sources.
At his arraignment, Manhattan Assistant District Legal professional Antoinette Carter handed over a black zippered bag containing a number of flash drives of proof, which she referred to as “fairly intensive.”
Schaller’s lawyer, Shari Vrod, reserved her bail software for a later date, and the choose continued remand, which means the teenager will stay locked up a minimum of till is subsequent courtroom date Dec. 9.
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