Police are still looking for at least one more suspect in connection with the crash, which is believed to have been caused by drag racing.
The incident happened when two cars, a 2004 blue BMW and a 2003 brown Ford Escape, collided at the intersection of 164th Place and 109th Avenue in the Jamaica section of Queens just after midnight Thursday.
Police say the force of the collision ejected 5-year-old Jordan McLean from the Ford Escape. The boy was reportedly tossed into a brick wall, where he was then pinned by the spinning car he had been riding in. He died 15 minutes later, in the arms of his grandmother, who was driving the car.
Witnesses say the boy was wearing a seatbelt, but that the impact still threw him from the car. One witness says the boy's pants were pulled down by the seatbelt as he was ejected.
The boy's aunt was also in the Ford Escape.
Police say the occupants of the other car ditched the BMW and fled on foot. Authorities say that car was registered to a victim of identity theft, who wasn't even aware the car was in his name.
Residents in the neighborhood said the area has become a the grounds for drag racing, and they fear that someone else will be next.
Councilman Leroy Comrie released the following statement.
"Foremost, my sincerest condolences and prayers go out to the family Jordan McClean. I can't imagine the devastation and pain they are suffering today with the loss of this child. It is unnatural for us to bury our children; our children are meant to bury us. I would ask all New Yorkers to say a prayer for this family and I am confident that our community will come out to support this family during this terrible time. Unfortunately, the circumstances of Jordan's murder- and I refer to it as that because when someone is involved in a vehicular accident and they run from the scene like cowards, those are the actions of a murderer - are indicative of much larger issues."
