Family heartbroken after announcing death of 13-year-old boy sh-ot in head in Queens: ‘I’m numb’

A 13-year-old boy shot in the head at a Dunkin Donuts parking lot has died, his family announced on Wednesday.

The family of 13-year-old Sanjay Samuel spoke outside Cohen’s Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, announcing that the teen had passed away.

Eyewitness News spoke with the victim’s mother, who says her whole world fell apart after realizing her boy, affectionately nicknamed “Peanut,” is never coming home.

“Sanjay was the most joyful son I had,” said Sanjay’s mother Vilene Griffith. “My heart is overwhelmed with grief with my Sanjay.”

The family says they want to donate Samuel’s organs.

The tragic update comes just two days after the shooting. Police say Samuel, a high school freshman, was in the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot with his friends on Monday morning, when someone came up on a scooter and shot him.

Surveillance video shows a boy running into a deli, appearing to tell other kids what happened. They come outside, stunned and upset.

Detectives also recovered surveillance video that indicates the shooting was targeted. Surveillance video of the shooting has not been released yet. Police believe the young teen was the intended target.

While police have yet to make an arrest, they said they have identified a person of interest that they are searching for.

The tragic death of the teen has left his mother distraught.

“That’s something that’s unbelievable,” Vilene Griffith said. “I’m numb and I’m speechless. I’m just numb.”

She recalls their last conversation.

“He said, ‘mom, bye I love you. See you this afternoon.’ I said, ‘call me when you get there,'” she said.

She never received that call.

The teen had just started high school and was hoping to try out for the basketball team.

“I’m so heartbroken because I would be at his bedside holding his hand talking to him. Daddy loves you. The whole family loves you. We want to see you come back, you know,” said Sanjay’s father, Theophilus Samuel.

But it wouldn’t happen. On Wednesday morning, the 13-year-old’s family got an update on his brain activity.

“Unfortunately, when that test was concluded, we were informed that there was none,” said the boy’s uncle, Eldin Griffith.

Mayor Eric Adams offered Sanjay’s family his condolences.

“I hope the mayor could do something for violence and teens in New York,” Vilene Griffith said.

“Making new laws better, whether placing more police officers at schools that are at high risk, particularly in the morning and the afternoon,” Eldin Griffith said.