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Man accused of fatally shooting Harlem grandmother pleads not guilty to murder charge
By
Charles Lane
Published Jun 9, 2025
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Brittany Kriegstein / Gothamist
By
Charles Lane
Published Jun 9, 2025
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The man accused of killing a 61-year-old grandmother who was a bystander in a Harlem shootout this spring was ordered held in jail Monday after pleading not guilty to murder and other charges in Manhattan court.
Ricky Shelby, 23, had asked the judge to be released because he said he was targeted by another man who, according to police, shot at Shelby during the incident on the night of April 22 near Malcolm X Boulevard and West 113th Street. But Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Ann Thompson denied the Bronx resident’s request.
Shelby was arraigned on an indictment charging him with murder, attempted murder and weapons possession in connection with the death of Excenia Mette, who police said had gone to check on her grandson around 10:20 p.m. after hearing a commotion outside her apartment.
Mette was a well-known community figure and member of the National Action Network, the civil rights organization founded by longtime activist Al Sharpton. Prosecutors said she was struck in her head by gunfire and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital.
Shelby was one of two men charged in the killing. Harlem resident Darious Smith pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and weapons possession last month. Calls to Smith’s attorney were not immediately returned Monday.
Excenia Mette is pictured in a social media photo posted on social media.
via Facebook
In court, prosecutors said the shooting was captured on video that showed Shelby and several other men pulling up to Smith in a BMW while he was on a scooter. Assistant District Attorney Alfred Peterson said Smith then shot at the group.
“[Shelby] then went back to the BMW to retrieve his own handgun and fired six shots from a .45 caliber handgun,” Peterson said.
He said Shelby hit Smith in his leg, and one of the bullets hit Mette. Cameras tracked Shelby returning to his home in the Bronx and changing clothes, Peterson added.
Shelby’s lawyer, Alberto Ebanks, said Smith had followed Shelby from 125th Street and attacked him.
“[Smith] doesn’t want to have a discussion,” Ebanks said in court. “He comes in like Yosemite Sam and opens fire.”
Following the proceeding, Ebanks said Mette’s death was a tragedy “of the highest order,” but said his client is innocent and has no criminal record.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Mette was known as “Mamma Zee” and was a “staple of the Harlem community.”
“New Yorkers should be able to walk in their neighborhoods without fearing for their lives, and we will hold accountable those who harm New Yorkers through gun violence,” he said in a statement.
Tagged
harlem
new york city
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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