September 24, 2025 The air in Cambria Heights, Queens is thick with fear and disbelief. A community is reeling after a 13-year-old boy, just a freshman with dreams of playing high school basketball, was shot in the head on his way to school. Now, as police hunt for a gunman, this young teen's family prays for a miracle.
On a Monday morning, Sanjay Samuel was heading to school like any other day when his life was violently interrupted. According to police, a suspect on a scooter approached Samuel and his friends. After a brief exchange, one shot was fired, striking the 13-year-old in the head. Police believe Samuel was the intended target. The motive remains a mystery.
A Community in Shock
The brazenness of the attack has left neighbors stunned. The community of Cambria Heights is known for its quiet, suburban feel. Valerie Small, the block vice president, expressed the collective shock. "We are really surprised that something like this would happen," she said, highlighting the community's solidarity with the victim's family. "This block, this community is there for them." Small described Samuel's family as "very well respected" and the kind of people "you like to have" as neighbors.
The victim's tragic journey from student to shooting victim unfolded in front of his friends. Surveillance video shows a group of children, visibly shaken, running into a nearby deli after the shooting, a chilling glimpse into the immediate aftermath of the violence.
A Desperate Search for Answers
While Samuel fights for his life on life support, detectives are racing against the clock to make an arrest. The shooting was captured on surveillance video, though it has not yet been released to the public. The footage is a key piece of evidence in the search for the suspect. Meanwhile, two police officers stand guard outside a local Dunkin' Donuts, a somber reminder of the violence that shattered a quiet morning.
