After a bizarre robbery and discovery of two bodies, a 15 year-old girl who according to unconfirmed reports was part of the “Bloods” gang, was arrested and charged with murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the first degree, gang assault and other related charges in the deaths of Christopher Umpierre during a December 19 home invasion in the Throgs Neck Houses and John Hopkins Drago on December 21.
The name of the defendant, Sharell Butler, also known as “Lady Red,” is being released, despite her status as a minor because the severity of the charges warrant that she be tried as an adult. Her last known address was on Poplar Street.
Butler was remanded into custody and no bail set, and her attorney, Xavier Donaldson, offered no comment.
“Drago was found wrapped in several plastic bags in the alley of a building by the superintendent,” said a police source.
Butler, acting in concert with other suspects allegedly stabbed Drago, found at 782 Pelham Parkway South, up to 50 times.
The December 21 murder was her second killing in two days, according to the police, who also charged Butler with the shooting death of Christopher Umpierre. Umpierre died in a home invasion at his apartment at 2829 Dewey Avenue after suffering bullet wounds, allegedly from a gun fired by Butler.
A man named James Medina, an accomplice of Butler’s, was also arrested for attempting to dispose of Drago’s body outside of his apartment building. Drago had been homeless since his mother threw him out of the house for alleged drug use, according to a source. His last known address was 548 Edison Avenue.
Witnesses to the two separate incidents had picked Bulter out of a police lineup. Police speculate that the killing of Drago may have been the result of him talking to the police about a robbery committed by a known associate of Bulter’s, but so far, this remains speculation.
It appears that the motive behind Umpierre’s death was his resistance to a botched robbery attempt, but police are still investigating.
Police sources said that they also are looking into other suspects who may have been involved in the crimes, but so far there have been no arrests.
