Ray Indicted in Binghamton After-Hours Club Shooting

A Binghamton man has been indicted on a charge of murder in connection with the fatal shooting outside a West Side after-hours club.

26-year-old Jihad Ray was named in the two-count indictment handed up Friday by a Broome County grand jury.

In addition to second-degree murder, Ray was indicted on a charge of second-degree criminal use of a firearm.

Binghamton police investigators believe 22-year-old Brandon Hernandez of Binghamton was shot repeatedly in the head at close range shortly before 5 a.m. on April 22.

Ray was taken into custody nearly a week after the shooting at his Chamberlain Street residence on the city's East Side.

Police Chief Joseph Zikuski has said detectives believed Ray had once been a member of the MacBallers gang but was "thrown out" of the group.

Zikuski said the shooting of Hernandez and the killing of Tyquan Gumbs on Fayette Street six days later were thought to be gang-related.

Broome County District Attorney Stephen Cornwell on May 2 visited the parking lot where Hernandez was gunned down. He told WNBF News that he was investigating after-hours clubs in the area.

Cornwell said the county is "not going to tolerate" such establishments.

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.