Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Sept. 22 that a Bronx man has been indicted on second-degree murder and additional charges in the death of Brandon Hendricks, a 17-year-old high school basketball player who was shot in the Bronx by a stray bullet on June 28, 2020.

Clark said, “The defendant allegedly callously fired into a group of people and ended the life of a young, promising teen. Brandon Hendricks had just graduated James Monroe High School and was set to play college basketball when he was killed on a Morris Heights street. Since his death, Brandon’s mother has channeled her grief into ardently speaking out against gun violence in our community.”

Clark said the defendant, Najhim Luke, 22, of Walton Avenue, was arraigned on second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Lester Adler. Remand was continued and the defendant is due back in court on Dec. 2, 2020.

According to the investigation, on the night of the shooting at 1726 Davidson Avenue, the defendant fired shots at a group of people who had gathered for a barbecue. One of the shots struck Hendricks in his back. He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital and was pronounced dead less than an hour after the shooting. The defendant fled the scene and was arrested on July 6, 2020.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John Miras, homicide counsel, under the supervision of Christine Scaccia, chief of the homicide bureau, and under the overall supervision of James Brennan, deputy chief of the trial division, and Theresa Gottlieb, chief of the trial division. Clark thanked Detective Francis Orlando of the Bronx homicide squad and Detective Adam Acosta of the 46^th precinct for their work on the investigation.