Latest news with #MommaZee
New York Post
10-05-2025
- New York Post
This Mother's Day, the best gift would be to get violent criminals off NYC streets
This Mother's Day, Harlem is missing a very beloved mama. On April 22, 'Momma Zee,' the neighborhood's pet name for Excenia Mette, was killed trying to protect her grandson, Jarian Jordan Jr. Hearing gunshots from a nearby shoot-out, Momma Zee ran outside to make sure that Jarian was not in harm's way — only to be struck by a fatal bullet. Such maternal care was one of this local legend's defining characteristics, and something she bestowed on her whole community. This included inspiring others: She was the first black woman to open a NYC bodega back in the 1980s. 'That's the person that she is,' said mourner Makeba Reece. 'She died doing what she does: loving and protecting.' 6 Excenia Mette, better known as 'Momma Zee,' was shot and killed amid the crossfire of a Harlem turf battle by a pair of young men with substantial previous criminal records. For Black Owned/Facebook But even a super mama can't protect loved ones from peril without the criminal justice system backing her up. Momma Zee might still be alive if New York's laws didn't make it uniquely difficult to protect the community from dangerous criminals. Indeed, the Empire State remains the only one in the union where judges are not permitted to consider dangerousness in detaining an offender pre-trial, thanks largely to its extreme 2020 bail law. And under 2018's 'Raise the Age' statute, New York's rules for 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes are so irresponsibly lax that 75% of those who perpetrate even a violent felony are never prosecuted in criminal court. Further, even with Gov. Hochul's teensy-weensy improvements to the state's radical 2020 discovery law, the amended law will still mandate the nation's most impossibly onerous compliance burden on prosecutors. No wonder, as Hochul pointed out, 94% of these domestic violence cases (many against mothers or children) are now declined or dismissed. Indeed, as we learn more details, it is shamefully clear that NY's criminal justice system failed to properly protect Harlem from the two dangerous young men who took Momma Zee's life, even though both had been in custody before. 6 The funeral procession for Momma Zee, who was a retail pioneer and a beloved community role model. James Messerschmidt Twenty-three-year-old Darious Smith was arrested right after the shootout for allegedly pulling out a gun on Lenox Avenue and West 113th Street, and opening fire, sparking a gun battle. Smith is charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon. And, nope, this wasn't his first rodeo: Smith reportedly has 18 prior arrests, including for robbery and a double stabbing. The week after Momma Zee's murder, 23-year-old Ricky Shelby also surrendered to authorities; he is suspected of firing the responding bullets in the crossfire, including the deadly shot that struck Momma Zee's head. And, yup, Shelby's also been around the block: He had a gun arrest in December 2020. 6 Despite protests, critics say Gov. Hochul was recently able to make minor improvements in New York State's ultra-lenient discovery laws. James Messerschmidt For that shooting, Ricky eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of a firearm in July 2023 and — tragically for Momma Zee — was sentenced to conditional discharge. These records suggest a story of young men whose involvement in violence — and the feuds that go with it — began long before they turned 18. Both likely benefited from 'Raise the Age' laws passed in time to prevent them from facing any real consequences for crimes like gun possession or assault. And the criminal justice system, under the discovery and bail laws, was so lackadaisical toward the men's adult crimes that both felt comfortable repeating them in Harlem last month. Smith, like last year, attacked with a weapon, firing recklessly from a scooter into a crowd. And Shelby, just like in the past, was prepared with a (40-caliber) firearm to blast back. New York's criminal justice system needs to make prosecution and incarceration 'disciplinarian' enough to both deter bad behavior and keep those in a 'time-out' who need one. Good policing is not enough. The good news is that in the Central Harlem precinct where Momma Zee was killed, effective policing has brought down chaos. Major crimes have fallen by a third since this time last year, with only half as many shooting victims as last spring. 6 Darious Smith, one of the alleged suspects in the 'Momma Zee,' has a notable record of past offenses, according to reports. Gabriella Bass 6 Ricky Shelby is the second suspect in the Momma Zee death, and like Smith, he has also seen his way through the criminal justice system. Steven Hirsch This represents a 21% drop from major crimes two years ago. More astoundingly, effective policing in Central Harlem has reduced serious crimes a whopping 75% since the early 1990s, when Momma Zee's beloved bodega was just getting off the ground. But lower numbers are not enough for the mothers whose children are victims of remaining violence. And it wasn't enough for Momma Zee's grandson, who eulogized: 'She was my advocate, and not just for me, for everyone in this room.' 6 Proactive policing is working in Harlem, where major crimes have fallen by one-third over the past year. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Momma Zee can't be the only grown-up in the room. New York lawmakers should give their constituents the Mother's Day gift they really want: Amend the laws that are putting their babies and themselves in harm's way. Hannah E. Meyers is a fellow and director of policing and public safety for the Manhattan Institute.
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Blame NY's thug-loving progs for the death of innocent bystanders like ‘Momma Zee'
The killing of Excenia 'Momma Zee' Mette stands as a double tragedy: A family — and community — lost a cherished member. And progressives lost one of the very people they claim to be looking out for, thanks to their own foolish policies. Mette was a beloved Harlem bodega-owner and respected community leader. She had recently attended the Rev. Al Sharpton National Action Network's annual convention. Tuesday night, Mette was caught in a deadly gang crossfire and fatally shot in the head when she ran outside to look for her grandson after hearing gunshots. Advertisement New York simply failed to protect her — because its laws, prosecutors and judges leave violent gunmen out on the streets, free to terrorize. They send the message that thugs will pay no price for their heinous deeds. Now Mette's shattered family and neighbors are crying, 'When is it going to stop?' Advertisement Sadly, it won't. Not until progressives put the rights and safety of law-abiding minorities (and others) above the interests of criminal minorities. Indeed, by Wednesday afternoon, just hours after Mette was killed, another innocent bystander — this time 28-year-old plumber's apprentice Marji Daoud, of Yonkers — was also fatally shot in the head when four men opened fire in The Bronx. Don't think such madness is inevitable: Tools like the Shotspotter, the gang database, 'broken windows' policing and other more can do wonders to keep streets safe, but they've been targets of the city and state's progressives. Advertisement Thug-coddling Democrats in the Legislature have resisted sensible fixes that could put violent sociopaths and recidivist gunmen behind bars. And judges and prosecutors have gone soft. Darious Smith, a suspect in the gunfire that led to Momma Zee's death, was out on bail at the time, facing charges he slashed two people with a box cutter. Judge Michael Ryan had lowered the prosecutor's request for $50,000 in bail to just $10,000. 'The police are doing their job. We have to have the other parts of the criminal justice system do their job,' fumed Mayor Eric Adams. Fact is, there's a direct link between these latest killings, pro-crime judges and district attorneys and soft-on-crime laws (cashless bail, Raise the Age, 'discovery' statutes that free perps on technicalities, etc.). Advertisement On Thursday, Mayor Adams made a big show of destroying over 3,500 illegal guns used in violent crimes — but the mayor knows it means nothing if you don't jail the thugs holding the gun. Progressives are steadfastly opposed to that. Their priority is protecting the perps. And too bad for victims like Momma Zee and Marji Daoud. Too bad for victims of color. New Yorkers should remember that Momma Zee's blood is on the hands of every progressive Democrat in Albany and City Hall. Communities like Harlem need to rise up and shout: Enough is enough. And then take their anger with them to the voting booth.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Harrowing footage shows the moment trailblazing NYC bodega-owning grandma was shot dead in crossfire
Heart-pounding footage shows the moment a beloved former Harlem bodega owner was fatally caught in a hail of bullets Tuesday night after she heard gunshots and rushed outside to check on her grandson. Excenia Mette, 61, was shot in the head by a bullet intended for someone else and was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to police and law enforcement sources. Surveillance footage from a nearby business shows Mette stepping outside Tamara's Beauty Bar — a salon on the first floor of her apartment building — around 10:30 p.m., looking around and then trying to retreat back inside as more gunfire erupted — but failing to make it in time. Instead, the cherished community member crumpled to the ground in the heartbreaking video obtained by The Post. The shooting that claimed the life of the innocent bystander and wounded another victim started when an argument between two men escalated into a gun battle. One suspect pulled a gun first, leading to a brief struggle, sources said. The second suspect then brandished his own gun and opened fire — with one of his shots hitting Mette, according to sources. The 47-second clip shows other bystanders scurrying to safety behind parked cars after the sound of two gunshots initially went off, while Mette poked her head outside the salon at West 113th Street and Lenox Avenue. She then walked a few steps further outside and appeared to shout something before another series of gunshots went off, the video shows. The grandmother was struck and fell onto the sidewalk in front of the salon's door as she attempted to run back inside to safety. Another man then emerged on the security video and took a tumble before quickly getting to his feet and ducking for cover, the harrowing video shows. Mette, who was affectionately known as 'Zeenie,' was left lying on the ground for several seconds before anyone rushed to check on her, according to the clip. At least eight shell casings were recovered at the scene during the police probe. Loved ones told The Post it was within Mette's character to rush outside to make sure her grandson was safe, even if it led to her tragic death. Nearly 24 hours after the fatal shooting, a makeshift memorial was set up with flowers and prayer candles that spelled out the letter Z and a heart shape outside the beauty salon. A large piece of cardboard was hung on the front of the salon, which was closed on Wednesday, with several heartfelt, hand-written messages praising and remembering Mette. 'We love your soul, Momma Zee,' one message read. 'Fly high, my love.' 'You taught me how to be a gentleman, without a Pops,' another read. 'I miss you so much already,' a third tragically said. Mette became a pillar in her Harlem community as the former owner of Momma Zee's Food to Plez Deli, which she ran for around four decades. She opened up her trailblazing business in the 1980s, making it the first woman- and black-owned bodega in the Big Apple. The deli closed after it couldn't survive the COVID-19 pandemic. One suspect allegedly involved in the gun fight, Darious Smith, 23, was taken into custody by authorities. He suffered a gunshot wound to the foot. The second gunman, who is responsible for killing Mette, remains on the lam Wednesday night.
