BRONX, N.Y. — A Bronx man was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison Wednesday for the 2022 shooting death of 11-year-old Kyhara Tay, an innocent bystander struck by a stray bullet as she stood outside a nail salon.
Matthew Godwin, now 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on March 6. He was sentenced by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack for firing at a 13-year-old boy in a gang-related attack that instead claimed the life of Tay, who was not the intended target.
Key Points:
- Matthew Godwin, 18, sentenced to 10 years to life for second-degree murder
- Victim Kyhara Tay, 11, was fatally shot outside a Bronx nail salon in May 2022
- Godwin opened fire while targeting a 13-year-old boy from the back of a scooter
Shooting from scooter led to fatal misfire
According to prosecutors, the incident unfolded on May 16, 2022, around 4:48 p.m. on Westchester Avenue in the Longwood section. Godwin was riding on a motorized scooter driven by co-defendant Omar Bojang, 21, as they searched for a rival gang member.
When the pair spotted a 13-year-old boy on the sidewalk, Bojang pulled the scooter onto the walkway. Godwin fired two shots from a handgun, and one of the bullets struck Kyhara Tay in the stomach. The girl was waiting for her friends near Fox Street when she was hit. She died that evening at a local hospital.
Bojang pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on March 6 and is scheduled to be sentenced to 15 years in prison with five years of post-release supervision on May 14.
DA: Victim’s family turns grief into advocacy
“Kyhara never had the chance to grow up,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark. “She was an innocent 11-year-old girl who was killed when the defendant, 15 years old at the time, started shooting at a 13-year-old boy. Her death is a profound tragedy, especially considering the ages of everyone involved.”
Clark said the sentencing marked a step in the pursuit of justice but emphasized that Kyhara’s family continues to speak out against gun violence. “Through their voice, Kyhara’s legacy will live on,” Clark added.
Court proceedings conclude, but pain remains
Godwin’s sentencing closes a high-profile case that drew attention to the rising threat of youth-involved gun violence in New York City. At the time of the shooting, both the victim and the defendant were minors. The tragedy sparked renewed calls for community efforts to address gang recruitment and firearm access among teens.
Officials did not indicate whether the weapon used in the shooting was recovered or how it was obtained. The investigation confirmed that the shooting was gang-related, with the intended target escaping physical injury.