Radames Remy Francisco, a 15-year-old male, was fatally shot on the evening of Friday, May 21, 2021, on Syracuse's Near West Side. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. in the 400 block of Shonnard Street, where police responded to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found Francisco with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was quickly transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Francisco, known as an aspiring rapper, was remembered by loved ones as the 'life of the party.'
The Syracuse Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts led to the identification of a suspect, another teenager. Just two days after the shooting, on Sunday, May 23, 2021, authorities arrested 14-year-old Zhaire Wilson in connection with the killing. The arrest took place at the Syracuse Police Department, and Wilson was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was lodged at the Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Center to await further legal proceedings.
Following his arrest, Zhaire Wilson's case moved through the justice system. He was indicted by a grand jury and later pleaded guilty to the charges against him. In a subsequent court appearance, Wilson was sentenced for his role in the death of Radames Francisco. The conviction brought a degree of closure to the case, though the community continued to mourn the loss of a young life cut short by violence.
