Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
Federal authorities have charged Faisil McCants, 18, of New York, with armed robbery and firing a machine gun that killed a 69-year-old bystander in East Harlem. The incident occurred on August 27, 2025, near East 109th Street and Madison Avenue.
According to the complaint unsealed by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, McCants and two co-conspirators allegedly robbed a drug dealer at gunpoint. During their escape, McCants is accused of firing 15 rounds from a machine gun in the direction of the victim. The shots struck Robin Wright, who was standing with her walker on the sidewalk. She was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead.
“As alleged, after robbing a drug dealer at gunpoint, Faisil McCants fired a machine gun in the middle of the day on the busy streets of New York City, killing another person,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The death of that wholly innocent bystander, a 69-year-old woman who was merely standing with her walker on the sidewalk in East Harlem, is as tragic as it is senseless. It is unacceptable. Because of the hard work of our partners at HSI and the NYPD and the prosecutors of this Office, McCants will now answer for his alleged crime. This tragic and senseless act shows again we must do all we can to get violent criminals off our streets.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel commented: “As a result of this defendant’s allegedly ruthless and utterly reckless violence, an innocent victim was gunned down in broad daylight while simply going about her daily life. New Yorkers deserve better—full stop. HSI New York—together with our partners at the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York—will not rest until the other individuals involved are captured and, like this defendant, face the full force of the criminal justice system for their accused, unacceptable crimes.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch stated: “Faisil McCants allegedly armed himself with a machine gun during a robbery and opened fire in broad daylight, killing a 69-year-old mother, grandmother, and beloved East Harlem community member. Robin Wright was an innocent bystander who lost her life to gun violence—and today, justice was served in her memory. Removing illegal firearms from our streets remains at the forefront of the NYPD’s public safety mission, and we will continue to ensure that those who carry them are held accountable. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators, HSI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their swift work to keep our streets safe.”
McCants faces one count of Hobbs Act robbery with up to 20 years in prison if convicted; he also faces one count related to use or possession of a machine gun during a crime—a charge carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years up to life imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra S. Messiter and Kathryn Wheelock from the Violent and Organized Crime Unit.
Authorities remind that charges are accusations only; McCants is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
