Grief-stricken kin of a “perfect child” fatally shot in an apparent case of mistaken identity in Brooklyn two years ago say they hope the callous killer who “shattered a family” soon faces justice.
Christian Josiah Montrose, 19 — described by cops as a “good kid” who didn’t even drink alcohol while trying to survive in a gang-infested neighborhood — had just parked his car in front of his family’s house on East 104th Street near Avenue K in Canarsie around 2:45 a.m. March 19, 2024.
That’s when a drive-by gunman in a black Acura shot the teen “car buff” in the mouth, torso and arm in a seeming case of mistaken identity, cops said.
The mortally wounded Montrose – who had only stepped outside in the pre-dawn hours to give his pal a lift – stumbled back into his home, where he choked on his own blood as he desperately tried to talk to his brother, according to officials and family.
He was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late.
Two years later, no arrests have been made in his slaying, and his family is left searching for answers.
“I don’t know what to make of it, because there’s no justice,” the victim’s mom, Amanda Montrose, 54, told The Post by phone Thursday. “There’s no one to hold accountability for my son, my perfect child.”
She added that when his killer, possibly another teen, is caught, she hopes he stays behind bars despite the “revolving door” criminal-justice system that she believes goes easy on youthful offenders, allowing them back on the street where they can continue “destroying families.”
“I hope they rot in the jail, with no visitors, no parole, no 25 [years] – but pure life in prison. I would also like to spit in their face,” she said.
“You took a perfect child.
“I believe deep in my heart, Christian’s killers will be caught,” Amanda said. “If you could pick up a gun and take somebody’s life, I would like that law to change that you do life in prison. It doesn’t matter how old you are.”
Christian’s sister Joanna Montrose said, “It’s really disappointing, because I felt by now at least the person responsible would be arreste.
“I would just tell [the killer], you know, ‘Please just own up to what you did, because you know that what you did was wrong and it was a mistake, and you kind of shattered a family,’ ” she said.
“So just do the right thing and come forward.’”
Christian, one of Amanda’s seven kids, was her “perfect love,” his mom said.
“They took a perfect child out of his community that the whole community loved,” Amanda said. “Everybody loved him.”
The grieving mom recalled how she was rattled awake that fated Thursday morning when Christian was senselessly shot.
“I ran outside in the middle of the morning,” she said. “I wake up my husband, [saying,] ‘There’s screams outside,’ not realizing. My daughter said I was hallucinating, but I heard the screams.”
The previous night brought back memories of a happier time when Christian – known for his culinary skills – cooked salmon for the entire family, his mom said.
“The same salmon fish we cooked [Wednesday was] the salmon fish he cooked on that night,” Amanda said. “His spirit was here. His spirit was here, his spirit was with us yesterday.”
The family laughed, danced and enjoyed a “beautiful” moment together in the kitchen, she said.
“That was the first time in two years – the first time in two years – all of us were in the kitchen, cooking at the same time, you know, doing something together,” the mom said.
Days after Christian’s murder, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters the shooter rolled up in the vehicle and ambushed the teen victim.
“As [Christian] gets out of the car, he’s engaged in conversation where he ends up getting shot,” Kenny said at a press briefing. “He’s shot multiple times – three gunshot wounds. One to the right side of his face, which knocks some teeth out, one to the right side of his abdomen, one to his right forearm.”
Kenny described the shooting victim as a “good kid” with no previous arrests who lived in an area known for its gang violence.
“When you speak to everybody, no gang, no drugs,” the chief said. “He doesn’t even drink alcohol. He’s a car buff. Everything this kid loves to do has to do with cars.”
Joanna Montrose described her brother as someone who always brought joy to others.
“He just liked to make jokes and make people laugh all the time,” she said.
Joanna said the family’s street will be renamed after Christian during a May 9 celebration of his life.
But Christian would shy away from the attention if he’d known about the renaming, she said.
“The attention being with him, it’s way too much,” she said. “He was very humble in that way.”
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