Tyrell Williams, a 26-year-old male, was fatally shot in Manhattan's East Village on October 11, 2020. The incident occurred in the early morning hours, around 1:20 a.m., near the corner of East 13th Street and Avenue A. Williams was with two friends when three men reportedly approached them, and one individual opened fire, striking Williams in the chest.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Williams' death led police to consider it potentially gang-related, with sources suggesting Williams may have been associated with a local group. Surveillance footage from a nearby deli captured images of the suspects shortly before the shooting, which aided authorities in their investigation. His mother, however, was unaware of any specific threats against her son and described him as a kind and loyal person. Williams was a father of two children.
A significant development in the case came on October 25, 2020, when a 15-year-old male named Qadar Marshall turned himself in to the police at the 9th Precinct stationhouse, accompanied by his sister. Marshall was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and criminal possession of a firearm.
During the arraignment, prosecutors stated that there appeared to be no prior connection between Williams and Marshall or his friends. It was alleged that Marshall and his companions had attempted to engage Williams in conversation twice, with Williams walking away on both occasions. Following the second interaction, Marshall allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Williams from a distance of about 15 feet without any apparent provocation. After the shooting, Marshall and his friends reportedly wandered the city for several hours before he returned home. Evidence in the case included the recovery of the alleged murder weapon and the clothes Marshall was wearing at the time of the incident from his home. There was also a suggestion by the prosecutor that Marshall's parents may have attempted to help him evade authorities by trying to purchase an e-ticket for travel, though the transaction was not successful.
