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Aspiring Singer Shot in Jamaica Forgives Gunman, Family Says

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | January 20, 2015 8:11am
 Police released a surveillance image of a suspect in the shooting of R&B singer C-Jay, who was shot in the back on Jan. 2, at 158th Street and Beaver Road in Jamaica.
Police released a surveillance image of a suspect in the shooting of R&B singer C-Jay, who was shot in the back on Jan. 2, at 158th Street and Beaver Road in Jamaica.
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NYPD

QUEENS — An aspiring R&B artist who was shot in the back earlier this month in Jamaica while on the way to a singing class has forgiven the gunman, his mother said Monday.

The 27-year-old singer, whose stage name is C-Jay, was shot in the upper back on Jan. 2 around 5:30 p.m. at 158th Street and Beaver Road, near the Long Island Rail Road underpass, police said.

C-Jay, whose real name is being withheld by DNAinfo New York for safety reasons, parked his car and was headed for a singing class with celebrity vocal coach Craig Derry when he was shot.

"He told me that he forgave the shooter," his mother said Monday. “He’s got a good heart.”

C-Jay was in stable condition but family members worried last week that he may end up paralyzed.

His mother said Monday that doctors have not performed surgery yet because C-Jay developed a fever and has to be stabilized first.

Meanwhile, police continue to look for the shooter.

Sources said that surveillance images show the gunman shooting C-Jay in the back. Two other men are seen in the video but it was not clear if they were with the shooter, police sources said.

Family members said they believe C-Jay was shot in a case of mistaken identity.

But police said it was not clear. Sources also said that the victim did not see who shot him and the motive remains unclear.

“I hope the guy is not on the street now hurting somebody else's child,” C-Jay's mother said. “I just hope they will catch him.”

C-Jay, whose coach described him as "a very talented, determined, very intelligent, smart and hard-working guy," has recorded several songs. On his Facebook page, he described his style as a fusion of pop, rock and R&B.

"I just pray for my son and hope for the best," his mother said. "I’ve been crying and crying."

C-Jay's family created a GoFundMe page, "Justice for Cjay," to collect money for medical bills.

As of Monday afternoon, the site had raised more than $8,300 of a $10,000 goal.

No arrests had been made as of Monday, police said.

Authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect and offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.