On a November night in 2018, a celebration of new life was tragically cut short by violence in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York. Tymel West, a 22-year-old male, was attending a baby shower on Guy R. Brewer Boulevard when a dispute erupted. The argument escalated, and West was shot multiple times in the torso. He was privately transported to Jamaica Hospital, but the severity of his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The immediate aftermath of the
shooting was chaotic, with a large crowd gathering at the scene as police began their investigation. The New York Police Department's Crime Scene Unit secured the area to collect evidence. Investigators soon identified a suspect and released images to the public, seeking information on his whereabouts and cautioning that he was considered armed and dangerous.
The search for the suspected shooter led to the arrest of 33-year-old Lhosni Colot of Jamaica. According to police, Colot admitted to shooting West following their argument. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. A Queens grand jury later indicted Colot on these charges. Prosecutors stated that he faced the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, up to 25 years to life, if convicted of the most serious charge. The motive for the fatal dispute was described as a petty argument that tragically escalated to deadly violence.
