Murrow High Student Murdered While Babysitting 3-Year-Old Cousin

Our hearts go out to Edward R. Murrow High School’s students and staff, who lost one of their own this week in a horrific murder in East Flatbush.

The Daily News reports 16-year-old Shemel Mercurius, a junior at the school, was shot and killed Tuesday while babysitting her 3-year-old cousin in an East Flatbush apartment.

Police found Mercurius barely conscious with two gunshot wounds when they arrived at the apartment. She was rushed to Kings County Hospital where she was pronounced dead, according to the NYPD.

Mercurius reportedly shared the name of her killer with police before taking her last breath. Authorities have since identified 24-year-old Taariq Stephens as the suspect in the murder, according to the Daily News. Stephens was initially believed to be Mercurius’ boyfriend, but that turned out to be false.

Authorities recovered surveillance video allegedly showing Stephens, armed with an assault rifle and accompanied by a young woman, enter the building at Brooklyn and Foster avenues just before 6pm. The two suspects pushed their way into the apartment on the 6th floor and are seen fleeing moments later, according to ABC7.

Mercurius was killed in the apartment of her aunt, who the teen moved in with after immigrating with her father from Guyana four years ago. The family wanted her to go to college in the United States.

The aunt, Latoya Price, whose 3-year-old son was in the room at the time of the shooting, told the Daily News Mercurius was like a daughter.

“I feel like I gave birth to her,” she reportedly said.

The father, Dexter Mercurius, described his daughter as “very nice person” who had “no problem with anybody,” according to the Daily News.

A candlelight vigil, attended by friends, family and elected officials, took place outside the home Wednesday.

City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo, moved to tears at the vigil, reportedly said: “When I think of this young lady, I think of myself.”