Richmond Hill street renamed for slain CO

Late CO Jonathan Narain’s family holds the sign renaming a Richmond Hill intersection. Councilmembers Donovan Richards (left) and Adrienne Adams (third from right) and District Leader Richard David (right) attended the event earlier this month. Photos courtesy of Richard David.

By Jonathan Sperling

The memory of a Richmond Hill man who was fatally shot in the neighborhood last year will live on after city officials unveiled a street co-named in his honor.

Correction Officer Jonathan Narain was just 27 when he was gunned down near 103rd Avenue and 120th Street in September 2018 in an apparent road rage incident. On Sunday, May 5, Richmond Hill community members gathered at 111th Street and Liberty Avenue as the street was officially co-named “Correction Officer Jonathan Narain Way” on Indian Arrival Day.

The City Council voted to approve the co-naming in December 2018.

“There was an outpouring of grief and love that we had to respond to with urgency. The community was shocked by this tragedy, another young man was killed by gun violence,” said local Richard David in a statement.

“With the family’s support, we mobilized by collecting hundreds of signatures and in record time the New York City Council voted unanimously to approve the street in Jonathan’s memory, where he grew up,” David added.

Narain was born at the former St. John’s Hospital in Elmhurst and raised on 111th Street in Richmond Hill. He graduated from Richmond Hill High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Local officials noted that Narain comes from a family of public servants, including his mother, a retired teacher with the Department of Education, and his father, who works for New York City Transit. Narain’s eldest brother has worked with the FDNY for 15 years, and his youngest brother works as an Emergency Medical Technician.

“They say no one is perfect, but my brother was near perfect. This kid did everything right. My family and I are deeply proud of him and our community for standing by our side during this time of mourning” said Narain’s brother, Jason Narain.