Teen charged in Baldwin shooting

driver then drove away, but got lost. Then, he said, he saw Nathan Assad’s vehicle following them. He told police he leaned out of the car and fired threeshots at the vehicle.

Nathan Lee was charged with homicide, robbery, possession of a firearm and recklessly endangering another person.

He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in City Court, Downtown, on Aug. 23.

A friend of Nathan Lee’s who asked not to be named said the 16-year-old is a “sweet person” who wanted to impress his friends and chose the wrong path in life.

“Even though Nate did a terrible thing, I honestly don’t believe he meant to aim andkill the victim,” she said.

Makena Marcus, 19, said Nathan Assad was one of her best friends. The rising senior at Baldwin High School was quiet until he got to know you, and then he became outgoing and funny, she said. He was a passionate skateboarder and was always ready to lend a hand to someone in need, she said.

“It breaks my heart that people are making him out to be a low-life drug dealer,” she said.

“Because that wasn't him at all, and I can not stress that enough. He made one silly mistake and it cost him his life.

“It’s extremely tragic and we are going to miss him dearly, but we know he’s watching over us now.”