Man Charged With Armed Robbery And Firing Machine Gun That Killed 69-Year-Old Bystander (DOJ)

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI"), Ricky J. Patel; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging FAISIL McCANTS in connection with an August 27, 2025, armed robbery and shooting in which McCANTS fired 15 rounds from a machine gun on a public street in East Harlem, New York, striking and killing a 69-year-old woman. McCANTS was arrested today and is expected to be presented tomorrow before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.

"As alleged, after robbing a drug dealer at gunpoint, Faisil McCants fired a machine gun in the middle of the day on the busy streets of New York City, killing another person," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "The death of that wholly innocent bystander, a 69-year-old woman who was merely standing with her walker on the sidewalk in East Harlem, is as tragic as it is senseless. It is unacceptable. Because of the hard work of our partners at HSI and the NYPD and the prosecutors of this Office, McCants will now answer for his alleged crime. This tragic and senseless act shows again we must do all we can to get violent criminals off our streets."

"As a result of this defendant's allegedly ruthless and utterly reckless violence, an innocent victim was gunned down in broad daylight while simply going about her daily life," said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. "New Yorkers deserve better-full stop. HSI New York-together with our partners at the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York-will not rest until the other individuals involved are captured and, like this defendant, face the full force of the criminal justice system for their accused, unacceptable crimes."

"Faisil McCants allegedly armed himself with a machine gun during a robbery and opened fire in broad daylight, killing a 69-year-old mother, grandmother, and beloved East Harlem community member," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "Robin Wright was an innocent bystander who lost her life to gun violence-and today, justice was served in her memory. Removing illegal firearms from our streets remains at the forefront of the NYPD's public safety mission, and we will continue to ensure that those who carry them are held accountable. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators, HSI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their swift work to keep our streets safe."

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

On or about August 27, 2025, shortly before 12:30 p.m., FAISIL McCANTS and two co-conspirators ("CC-1" and "CC-2") robbed a drug dealer ("Individual-1") near East 109th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. During the robbery, McCANTS and his co-conspirators got into a physical altercation with Individual-1 before both McCANTS and CC-2 grabbed backpacks from Individual-1-which contained marijuana-and then fled north on Madison Avenue, turning onto East 110th Street.

As he fled the robbery, McCANTS pulled a black machine gun out of his right sweatshirt pocket and fired 15 shots in rapid succession in the general direction of Individual-1. A 69-year-old woman who was standing with a walker on the northwest corner of East 110th Street and Madison Avenue-in the direction that McCANTS shot the machine gun-was hit by the gunfire. From the scene, she was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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McCANTS, 18, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of the use, carrying, and possession of a machine gun, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD. He also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the New York State Board of Parole.

This case is being handled by the Office's Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra S. Messiter and Kathryn Wheelock are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.