In the early summer of 2021, the life of 23-year-old Darren Rosa was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire in Syracuse, New York. On the evening of June 7th, Rosa was fatally shot, marking another grim statistic in the city's record of gun violence. The incident prompted an investigation by the Syracuse Police Department, which would soon lead to the identification of several young suspects.
Within weeks of the shooting, the investigation culminated in the indictment of four
teenagers. Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick announced that Atreyu Boykins, 17, Jaeden Campbell, 16, Tahson Sampson, 17, and Anthony Dowdell, 18, would face charges in connection with Rosa's death. The indictment alleged that the teens drove by Rosa's residence and unleashed a volley of at least nine shots from semi-automatic pistols. Tragically, it was believed that the fatal shot was fired by the youngest of the group, 16-year-old Jaeden Campbell. Three of the four teenagers, including Boykins, were charged with second-degree murder.
The legal process began to unfold, and in July 2022, one of the accused, Atreyu Boykins, entered a guilty plea to the charge of murder in the second degree. Following his plea, he was formally convicted of the crime. The court's decision was later upheld on appeal in June of 2025, solidifying the conviction. While the case against Boykins reached a resolution, the legal journeys of the other three defendants, Jaeden Campbell, Tahson Sampson, and Anthony Dowdell, continued, leaving the full scope of justice for Darren Rosa's death to be determined.
