Teen admits guilt in shooting of disabled woman in East Harlem caused by stray bullet.

A teenage suspect has entered a guilty plea in connection with the fatal shooting of Robin Wright, a 69-year-old woman, who was tragically struck by a stray bullet in East Harlem. The plea was announced on Tuesday by the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The incident occurred around 12:25 p.m. on August 27, 2025, near East 110th Street and Madison Avenue, a location less than a block away from Wright’s home where she lived with her grandson.

The defendant, Faisil McCants, 18, faces serious legal consequences, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The shooting was described by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton as a senseless act that resulted in the loss of an innocent life. McCants allegedly fired 15 rounds in rapid succession, using a machine gun, with one of the bullets striking Wright in the head as she stood on the street with her walker.

McCants was apprehended on September 4, 2025, by a joint operation involving Homeland Security agents and the NYPD Violent Crimes Task Force. He faces multiple charges in federal court, including armed robbery and possession of a machine gun, as well as charges of murder and robbery in Manhattan Criminal Court. The federal complaint indicates that an analysis of surveillance footage alongside 15 shell casings recovered from the scene confirmed McCants’ use of a machine gun, with evidence suggesting he pulled the trigger only once during the assault.

The day of the shooting, McCants and two other unidentified individuals are alleged to have robbed a drug dealer who was resting outside a deli. Following a confrontation, they fled the scene with stolen marijuana. In their attempt to evade capture, McCants reportedly discharged his weapon toward the dealer as they ran, leading to Wright’s tragic death.

In a statement, Ricky Patel, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, expressed the pain caused by this incident, noting that McCants would face decades in prison while Wright’s family prepares to experience their first holiday season without her.

McCants is scheduled for sentencing on March 31, 2026. As the case progresses, it serves as a reminder of the grave impact of gun violence on communities and the need for ongoing discussions surrounding public safety.