In the Stapleton neighborhood of Staten Island, a 23-year-old man named Avanti Brock was fatally shot on the evening of March 12, 2020. The incident, which marked the borough's first homicide of the year, occurred outside the Green Apple Deli on Broad Street. Surveillance footage from the scene captured a man approaching Brock and another individual before opening fire.
Emergency services transported Brock to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where he was pronounced dead.
Avanti, who was born on March 10, 1997, in Manhattan, was remembered by his family as a loyal, kind, and respectful individual who loved his family, music, and basketball. He had graduated from South Richmond High School and had earned some college credits. He was known for his willingness to help others and had worked various jobs, including in construction and as a youth counselor.
The investigation into his death led authorities to John Pena, also known as 'Tragedy,' the leader of the Gorilla Stone Mafia, a faction of the Bloods street gang. Evidence presented during a federal trial in Brooklyn implicated Pena in orchestrating and carrying out violent acts to maintain his leadership, including the murder of Avanti Brock. The collaborative efforts of the NYPD and the FBI resulted in Pena's conviction on multiple charges, including racketeering and murder. For his role in the death of Avanti Brock and other violent crimes, John Pena was sentenced to life in prison.
