Demetri McKay Jr., 29, was shot dead
Minara Helen: An MTA bus driver who was fatally shot inside a Queens burger restaurant has been identified as an innocent bystander who was on a date when he was struck in a botched gang-related shooting, according to police sources.
Demetri McKay Jr., 29, was shot around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday inside Hangar 11 Burgers & Brews in Kew Gardens. Police said two masked gunmen entered the restaurant targeting a rival, but the gunfire missed its intended target and instead struck McKay Jr. The bullet passed through his arm and into his chest and heart. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Authorities said McKay Jr. had no criminal history and was simply an innocent customer at the scene. No arrests have been made so far, and the NYPD has released surveillance footage of the suspects in an effort to identify them.
McKay Jr. began working as an MTA bus driver in 2024 and drove the Q2 route from Jamaica to Belmont Park. He was the father of an 8-year-old child and would have turned 30 in August. Family members described him as hardworking, family-oriented, and deeply loved by everyone who knew him.
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