On a warm summer evening in Syracuse, New York, what began as a festive gathering quickly descended into chaos and tragedy. Seventeen-year-old Chariel Osorio, a male who had just received his high school diploma hours earlier, was fatally wounded on Saturday, June 20, 2020, at a large outdoor party. The event, attended by several hundred people, was shattered by the eruption of gunfire, which resulted in nine people being shot.
While the other victims, ranging in age from 18 to 53, were expected to survive their injuries, Osorio succumbed to his wounds.
The investigation into the mass shooting pointed to a violent clash between rival gangs. Authorities believe that as many as six individuals opened fire into the densely packed crowd. In the wake of the violence, the community mourned the loss of the young man, with nearly 200 people gathering for a vigil in his honor. Investigators have suggested that Chariel Osorio may have been an innocent bystander, possibly even attempting to break up the fight when he was tragically shot.
In the weeks following the deadly shooting, law enforcement made several arrests. Three suspects were taken into custody in connection with the incident that claimed Osorio's life. Eighteen-year-old Handsome Rice and another individual, Devar Williams, were charged with murder. A third person, Eric Williams, faced charges of attempted murder for his alleged role in the violence that unfolded at the party on the Near West Side of the city.
