On a Monday afternoon in June of 2021, a 47-year-old man named Darius Guillebeaux was fatally shot in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York. The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. at the intersection of 148th Street and Rockaway Boulevard, where Guillebeaux was reportedly arguing with two men before they opened fire. Emergency responders found him unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and chest.
He was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Guillebeaux, also known on the streets as 'D Block,' had a history with law enforcement, including 13 arrests and three prison terms for robbery and drug-related offenses. Just months before his death, in November 2020, he was one of 54 individuals indicted in a major drug trafficking investigation known as 'Operation Heat Wave,' accused of supplying a drug ring in upstate Jefferson County.
For three years, the case remained under investigation. Then, in June 2024, two men were arrested in connection with Guillebeaux's death. The suspects were identified as 23-year-old Jayson Scott and 22-year-old Richard Swygert. Scott is the son of hip-hop artist Remy Ma. The Queens District Attorney's office announced that Scott and Swygert were indicted on murder charges, with the allegation that Scott was hired to kill Guillebeaux.
Investigators pieced together the events of the shooting using video surveillance. The footage allegedly shows Scott and Swygert near the scene before the shooting. Authorities state that Scott approached Guillebeaux and shot him, then stood over him and fired again as Swygert also fired at least two shots. The two men were then seen fleeing the scene in a red Hyundai Elantra. Jayson Scott was charged with murder in the first and second degrees, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. Richard Swygert was charged with murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. If convicted, Scott faces up to life in prison without parole, while Swygert could face up to 25 years to life in prison. Both men have been remanded and are awaiting their court date.
