On a late Thursday evening in the Bronx, tragedy struck a family and a community. On May 6, 2021, 17-year-old Tony Boyd was at the Gouverneur Playground on Washington Avenue when his life was abruptly cut short. Just before 11:30 p.m., an individual approached and fired a gun multiple times, striking the young man in the chest and back. The shooter then fled the scene on foot, heading south on Washington Avenue.
Emergency services rushed Tony to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced deceased.
The investigation into the murder of Tony Boyd, a male with dreams of becoming an engineer, led authorities down a path with several turns. Initially, the police sought the public's help in identifying a suspect captured on surveillance video. In November 2021, this led to the arrest of 27-year-old Jaykwan Ford. He was charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Tony's death.
However, the case evolved over time. By 2023, two other individuals, Tyrese White and Christopher Mills, both 21 years old at the time, were indicted on charges related to the fatal shooting. They were already in custody for unrelated matters when the charges for Tony's death were brought against them. In a significant development in October 2024, Tyrese White pleaded guilty to manslaughter and robbery. As part of his plea deal, he is expected to be sentenced to 21 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. The case against Christopher Mills was scheduled to proceed in court later that same month.
