In the early evening of a summer day in Manhattan, a senseless act of violence cut short the life of Leroy Louallen-Phinazee. The 29-year-old male had just spent some precious moments with his seven-year-old son, dropping him off for basketball practice in Harlem. Shortly after, as he was leaving a deli on Lenox Ave. near W. 139th St. around 6:15 p.m.
on June 24, 2019, his life came to an abrupt and tragic end.
An assailant, without any immediately apparent motive, fired a single, fatal shot that struck Louallen-Phinazee in the head. The gunman, whose face was obscured by a hoodie, fled the scene, leaving chaos and heartbreak in his wake. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and transported Louallen-Phinazee to Harlem Hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The community was left to grapple with the sudden loss of a man described as a devoted father whose world revolved around his son. Beyond his role as a parent, Louallen-Phinazee was also known as the nephew of the late and legendary Harlem rapper Big L, and he was reportedly working on a documentary about his uncle's life and legacy. The promising filmmaker and loving father's untimely death left a void in the lives of his family and friends. Despite the public nature of the shooting, details regarding any suspects or arrests in the case have not been made widely available. The investigation into who was responsible for the death of Leroy Louallen-Phinazee continues.
