‘Mama Zee’ Shooting Suspect Indicted; Sexual Abuse on Uptown Subway

Ricky Shelby, 24, the gunman suspected of murdering beloved Harlem grandmother Excenia “Mama Zee” Mette has been indicted. Mette was killed outside her apartment on West 113th Street on the night of April 22, with Shelby being the alleged shooter.

According to court documents and statements, at approximately 10:30pm, Shelby exited his BMW at the corner of West 113th Street and Lenox Avenue. Simultaneously, separately charged defendant Darious Smith arrived on a scooter and allegedly flashed a gun at a group of individuals, including Shelby.

Smith allegedly fired two shots from a 9-millimeter handgun in the direction of one of the people who had exited the BMW and fled southbound on Lenox Avenue. No one was struck, and Smith fled on his scooter westbound on West 113th Street.

At the same time, Shelby returned to the BMW and emerged with a firearm. He allegedly fired six shots from a 40-caliber handgun at Smith, who was struck once in the leg.

Another bullet struck Excenia Mette in the head, killing her.

Smith was treated at a local hospital and subsequently arrested. At his April 24 arraignment, Smith wore a white Tyvek suit and was handcuffed to a wheelchair. On May 12, Smith was indicted on Attempted Murder and Criminal Possession of a Weapon charges.

Shelby fled the scene in the BMW. On April 28, 2025, he surrendered to the NYPD.

Both men are recidivists and both are being held without bail at Rikers Island. Smith, 23, was awaiting trial on a June 2024 incident in which he allegedly slashed two men with a box cutter while trying to steal e-bike batteries. In 2020, Shelby faced a gun charge that somehow became a misdemeanor.

Fiend Follows Teen from Subway to Street, Forcibly Kisses Her

Cops are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying an individual wanted in connection with a sexual abuse incident that occurred within the confines of the 34th Precinct.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at approximately 4:40pm, a 16-year-old female victim was approached by an unidentified male at the Dyckman Street A train subway platform in Inwood.

The suspect followed her to the street level at Fort George Hill and Hillside Avenue, where he kissed her without her consent. The individual fled on foot to parts unknown. There were no injuries reported from this incident.

The suspect is described as a male with a medium complexion and approximately 18 to 24 years old. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants, and a black skullcap.

Anyone with information in regard to 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.

All calls are strictly confidential.