The stray-bullet shooting death of an 11-year-old girl as she splashed around an open Queens hydrant was the result of a simmering neighborhood turf war between two gangs that came to a bloody climax on one of the hottest days of the year, neighbors said yesterday.
Little Genesis Regalado was shot once in the head when a gunman opened fire in a bid to kill a rival gang member who was standing near the hydrant on 99th Street and 55th Avenue in Corona, cops and neighbors said.
“It’s a whole turf thing – friends looking out for friends. It’s basically just peer pressure. They’re all 16, 17, 18 maybe the oldest 19,” said neighbor David Perez. “I’m sure it won’t end here. Retaliation is a must out here.”
The suspected gunman, identified by cops as Jeffrey Matista, was later nabbed as he stepped off a plane in the Dominican Republic and was quickly flown back to New York for questioning, cops said. His cousin was also taken in for questioning.
The intended target – a 16-year-old who neighbors say is a member of the 99th Street Gang – allegedly had brandished a gun last week at members of the rival group, known as the Calloway Street Boys.
“He pulled out a gun last week on the same guy that shot the girl, because they were looking at him funny,” said Tuwana Thompson. “So they came back and retaliated.”
The targeted teen – who asked that his name not be printed – admitted knowing the gunman and others in the car, but said he didn’t know why they were gunning for him.
“I seen them before. I don’t remember the argument,” he said. “I was playing with the girl and then right there they just started shooting. They pulled up really slow.”
Just before Monday night’s shooting, some teens said they had a run-in with members of the Calloway Boys.
“We were in the Chinese restaurant, they were just grilling [staring], about five guys, just talking s- – – . We said, ‘So what the f- – – are you looking at?’ ” said Elloy Espinal, 18. “Then we left and came back here and I started eating my food, and they passed by and just started shooting.”
When the smoke cleared, Genesis was slumped over a fence, by her older brother’s side.
“She got hit in the head and just laid on the fence bent over. Her head and her hand were on the other side. I told my girlfriend. ‘Call the cops! Call the cops!’ ” said Jeffrey Regalado. “She was my only sister. She died on my lap.”
The shooter and his pals sped off in a dark Honda sedan which was found parked nearby a short while later. The gun has yet to be recovered.
Meanwhile, relatives said Genesis’ mother could not accept the reality of her daughter’s death.
“She’s still in denial. She still doesn’t want to realize what really happened,” said cousin Jenny Peña. “She was like, ‘Genesis, I know you’re still here. Come back with me.’ ”
Additional reporting by Jamie Schram and Stephanie Cohen