CITY OF NEWBURGH - Police on Wednesday arrested a 22-year-old Newburgh man and charged him with murder in the Aug. 30 shooting death of Keyshan Gayle, who died after he was hit in the back with a single gunshot at the corner of Fullerton Avenue and Third Street.

Gayle, 18, graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in June. He was found shot about 11:15 p.m. Aug. 30, outside a grocery store, just blocks from NFA, and died a short time later at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital. He had been planning to start classes at Hudson Valley Community College in January.

Police arrested Tyler Castro and charged him with second-degree murder. Castro was being held late Wednesday at the Newburgh Police Lockup, pending arraignment. Police said the arraignment will be in Newburgh City Court Thursday, but a time had not been set as of late Wednesday.

Newburgh police said Castro’s arrest followed an investigation by city police, working with the state police Major Crimes Unit, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Gayle’s mother, Jennifer Bediako, said detectives told her about the arrest earlier Wednesday.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I knew this day would come. I was crying and just thanking God – that’s exactly what I did. Just raise my hands to God and thank him, because this day was going to come and I knew it. I was just waiting for it.”

“It’s the beginning of closure for my family,” she said. “Everybody’s just happy right now – just happy that justice will be served for Keyshan.”

Bediako called the shooting and Castro’s arrest a “senseless” tragedy for two families.

“Everybody loses. Now this kid lost his life and his family is going to be hurting, and Keyshan lost his life and the community is hurting,” she said. “Nobody wins here. We all lose.”

Since her son's killing, Bediako has pushed for improved video surveillance in the City of Newburgh. She said some cameras that might have provided clues to her son's slaying were not working properly. On Sept. 3, about 1,000 people packed Solid Rock Church in New Windsor for a remembrance service for Gayle. He had attended the church since childhood.

Castro is known to authorities. In September 2015, Castro, along with a Newburgh woman and a New Windsor man, were arrested, accused of stealing more than $11,000 by opening accounts at two local credit unions and using checks from phony accounts at other banks.

Castro pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to grand larceny in the case.

He also pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in another case and was free pending sentencing in both cases.

Staff writer Leonard Sparks contributed to this story.

dbayne@th-record.com