Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been
sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of weapon possession involving a
shooting that left a 5-year-old boy critically wounded.
District Attorney Clark said, “Any defendant on parole, carrying a gun in broad daylight
should receive the maximum sentence under the law, which is 15 years. The young victim
miraculously survived a gunshot to the head but continues to struggle with the injuries. An
innocent child’s life has been utterly changed.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Michael Quiles, 29, of Washington Avenue,
was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and 5 years post-release supervision by Bronx
Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus. A jury found the defendant guilty of second-degree
Criminal Possession of a Weapon on March 26, 2019. The defendant was acquitted of
Attempted Murder and first-degree Assault.
According to the investigation, on June 5, 2017, in the area of 167th Street and Washington
Avenue, the defendant was in possession of a loaded firearm while arguing with two men with
whom he was having a dispute. The men were armed with knives and approached the defendant.
Quiles, who was on parole at the time, then fired multiple shots during the argument. One bullet
struck Jaheem Hunter, who was to celebrate his fifth birthday that day. His father and sister
rushed him to the hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries. He suffered severe brain
damage and continues to live with the repercussions from the shooting.
