On the tragic evening of April 5, 2021, the life of 20-year-old Solei Spears, a promising Black female political science major at Baruch College, was brutally cut short in her Brooklyn, New York apartment. The vibrant young woman, known for her bright and gentle nature, was fatally shot along with her 45-year-old mother, Rasheeda Barzey, and her 16-year-old sister, Chloe Spears. The devastating act of violence unfolded in their home at the Van Dyke Houses in the Brownsville neighborhood.
Solei was deeply engaged in her community and her studies, having interned at the Brooklyn district attorney's office and actively participated in Baruch College's Black Student Union.
The perpetrator of this horrific crime was identified as Joseph McCrimon, the 46-year-old ex-boyfriend of Rasheeda Barzey. The relationship between McCrimon and Barzey was described by family as tumultuous and had spanned over two decades, though there was no official history of domestic incidents. On what was supposed to be a day of celebration, McCrimon arrived at the apartment for his and Rasheeda's 9-year-old daughter's birthday. However, the gathering turned into a scene of unimaginable horror when McCrimon opened fire on Rasheeda and her two daughters, Solei and Chloe.
In the midst of the chaos, the 9-year-old girl, who was physically unharmed, bravely hid in a closet and called 911. Her chilling call alerted the authorities to the unfolding tragedy. After committing the murders, Joseph McCrimon fled the apartment and was later found in a nearby walkway with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two firearms were recovered at the scene. The case was subsequently classified as a murder-suicide, with McCrimon being the sole person responsible for the deaths. Consequently, there were no further arrests or suspects sought in connection with this devastating event that left a community in mourning and highlighted the profound and lasting impact of domestic violence.
