Attempted Rape on Riverside Drive; “Mama Zee” Mourned at Harlem Funeral

The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying an individual who is wanted in connection to an attempted rape that occurred within the confines of the 30 Precinct. Details are as follows:

An unidentified male approached a 42-year-old female victim and attempted to rape her on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at approximately 3:52 a.m. near Riverside Drive and West 135th Street. The attacker then fled on foot. The victim was transported by EMS to Mount Sinai Morningside in stable condition.

The suspect is described as light skin male, 5’7” tall, and around 25-30 years old. He was last seen wearing a light a colored hoodie, dark colored pants, light colored sneakers, a dark colored backpack.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

Excenia Mette Mourned, Two Suspects Locked in Rikers

“Mama Zee,” the beloved Harlem grandmother who was shot and killed outside her West 113th Street apartment on the night of April 22, is going home.

Following her May 2 funeral at Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church at 140 W. 137th Street, Mette, also known as Excenia Foote, will be buried in her hometown of Peoria, Illinois.

Calling her death the result of being shot in the head by a “stray” bullet may be true but it considerably understates the cold savagery her death.

Mette heard a commotion on the street around 10:30 at night and concerned for her 24-year-old grandson, went outside to check on him when she was shot and killed.

Mayor Adams and the Rev. Al Sharpton were prominent among the mourners. Adams, whatever else one may say about Hizzoner, has consistently raised voice against violent crime, while the community minded Mette, a former Harlem bodega owner was personally known to Sharpton as an associate of his civil rights organization, the National Action Network.

“She left her fingerprints on countless lives,” Sharpton told the mourners. Popular Harlem rapper Jim Jones and Pastor Rev. Malcolm Boyd also spoke eloquently.

One suspect in the exchange of gunfire, Darious Smith, was wounded in the foot on April 22 and arrested two days later. Smith, described as a Black male, 5’7”, 150 pounds, was out on bail awaiting trial in a felony robbery case. Now charged with attempted murder, he’s being held without bail on Rikers Island.

A second suspect, Ricky Shelby, 23, believed to be the man who allegedly shot Momma Zee, turned himself into 28th Precinct cops on April 28.

A Black male, 6’ tall and 200 pounds, Shelby has been charged with second-degree murder and weapons possession. He too being held on Rikers Island without bail.