Man indicted for drive-by murder, car crash and gunpoint robbery in Harlem

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 21-year-old man was indicted in the death a man in a drive-by shooting, crash and gunpoint robbery in Harlem in July, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced Tuesday.

Mohamed Sawaneh is charged with murder, criminal possession of a weapon, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, with personal injury. He is also charged with robbery.

According to court documents, at approximately 1:39 p.m. on July 2, Sawaneh was driving his car in Harlem. As Sawaneh drove the car by West 118th Street and 8th Avenue, he rolled down the front passenger side window and fired shots towards a group of men, striking 37-year-old Jeremy “Jeremiah” Cummings in the torso.

Cummings dragged himself behind a vehicle, where he collapsed. The rest of the group ran away for safety, officials said.

Cummings was eventually transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Following the shooting, Sawaneh drove off in his car then crashed into a vehicle, which was stopped at a stoplight, near West 118th Street between Saint Nicholas and 7th Avenues.

The 61-year-old driver of the vehicle was injured in the crash.

Sawaneh then abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot and spotted a 13-year-old boy on a Citi Bike, near West 118th Street and Lenox Avenue a few minutes later, prosecutors said.

Sawaneh approached the boy, displayed a firearm and demanded he turnover the bike. Sawaneh then fled the scene riding the bike.

Sawaneh eventually fled to Ohio but was intercepted by NYPD police officers when he returned to a bus terminal in Chinatown. He was arrested on Aug. 13.

A court-authorized search warrant was executed on Sawaneh's phone and it was discovered that he had taken pictures of the group of men several minutes before he shot at them.

"As alleged, Mohamed Sawaneh committed a deadly, broad daylight shooting and committed multiple additional, serious crimes in the span of minutes," said District Attorney Bragg. "This alleged, vicious conduct put several people at risk of being harmed and tragically took the life of Jeremy Cummings, a friendly sports lover. My thoughts are with Mr. Cummings’ family and loved ones during this difficult time."