New York Post By Jason Beeferman and Jesse O’Neill
The teenage boy accused of shooting a Marine tourist in Times Square last week was taken from a Midtown police precinct house to court to face attempted murder charges Wednesday.
The 16-year-old, who sources identified as Avon Darden, mumbled through his mask when asked by The Post if he had a message for the family of 21-year-old Samuel Poulin.
“Yeah I got a message for the family… [inaudible],” the handcuffed suspect said in a challenging tone as he was driven to court by detectives Wednesday evening.
Darden was charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the June 27 incident, police said.
The teen turned himself into the Midtown South police precinct Wednesday afternoon, according to sources.
He allegedly opened fire in broad daylight after feuding with a street performer, sources said.
The bullet ricocheted and hit Poulin in the back as he and his family were walking past Marriott Hotel on West 45th Street and Broadway at 5:15 p.m., according to the NYPD.
The Marine was visiting the city from upstate New York to attend a baptism.
Darden had been arrested by the NYPD on five previous occasions, all of which are sealed, sources said.
The shooting marked the second time in two months that gunfire erupted on The Great White Way in the middle of the day.
A Brooklyn 4-year-old and two tourists were shot on Broadway and West 44th Street in May.
Times Square shooting suspect Avon Darden being walked out of the Midtown South Precinct on July 7, 2021.
