BRONX, N.Y. — An 18-year-old Bronx man was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison Wednesday for the 2022 shooting that killed 11-year-old Kyhara Tay, a bystander caught in crossfire while waiting outside a nail salon.
Matthew Godwin, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on March 6. Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack handed down the sentence, capping a nearly three-year investigation into the fatal gunfire that claimed the life of the young girl.
Key Points:
- Matthew Godwin sentenced to 10 years to life for second-degree murder
- Victim Kyhara Tay, 11, was struck by a stray bullet on May 16, 2022
- Godwin fired while targeting a 13-year-old boy during a gang-related attack
Gunfire aimed at teen rival kills innocent girl
According to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, Godwin was riding on the back of a motorized scooter driven by then-19-year-old Omar Bojang along Westchester Avenue in the Longwood section of the Bronx. The pair was searching for a rival gang member when Bojang pulled onto a sidewalk.
Godwin spotted the 13-year-old boy and fired two shots from a handgun. One bullet struck Kyhara in the stomach as she stood outside a nail salon near Fox Street. She died later that evening at a hospital.
Bojang, now 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on the same day as Godwin and is scheduled to be sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision on May 14.
Family and DA reflect on ‘profound tragedy’
“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 acknowledged the family’s advocacy against gun violence in the aftermath of the tragedy, noting that their public stance helped raise awareness around youth firearm crimes.
Shooter’s sentence closes legal chapter, but pain remains
The sentencing brings closure to one of the most high-profile cases involving youth gun violence in recent Bronx history. Godwin’s conviction and lengthy prison term reflect the court’s recognition of the severity of the crime, despite his age at the time.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the firearm used was recovered or linked to other crimes. The investigation confirmed the motive was gang-related, but the intended target was not physically injured.
The shooter who killed Kyhara Tay while aiming at a 13-year-old boy will now spend a minimum of a decade behind bars.