#Accused gang member jailed in fatal shooting of bystander dog-walker

A teenage accused gang member has been charged with murder in the stray-bullet killing of a Queens man who was just out walking his dog, the Queens District Attorney announced Thursday.

Ike Ford, 17, was charged with murder and possession of a weapon for allegedly basting George Acosta Sr., 54, in Long Island City on July 25, officials said. Acosta spent a month in the hospital and died on Tuesday, his family told the Post.

Ford and an accomplice were targeting a rival gang member when he fired the shot that ended up killing Acosta near the Queensbridge Houses, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

“Tragically, a man is dead because he took his dog for a walk in his neighborhood, struck by a bullet intended for someone else,” Katz said. “Every resident of every community deserves to be safe from the reckless gang violence that is fueled by access to guns.”

The teen was arrested after another shooting Tuesday, where he and the same accomplice allegedly fired a gun near 40th Avenue and 10th Street in Long Island City. No one is believed to have been injured in that shooting. Police are seeking the teen’s accomplice.

Ford was arraigned Wednesday night on charges of murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree, officials said. He was sent to jail with a return court date, and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

The investigation was conducted by Police Officer Scott Sohn of the NYPD’s 114th Precinct Detective Squad under the supervision of Lt. Brian Hillmann, commanding officer, officials said.