On a summer afternoon in Peekskill, New York, the life of 22-year-old Khalil Lyons was tragically cut short. On July 13, 2018, the young man from the Bronx was in Peekskill to help a friend with his car, a passion of his. He was looking forward to returning home to his wife and their 2-year-old daughter, with plans to celebrate her birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. Sadly, he would never make it back. A dispute escalated into violence, and Lyons was fatally shot in the chest on Park Street.
Emergency services responded to the scene and transported him to New York-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The Peekskill Police Department immediately launched an intensive investigation into the daylight shooting. Their efforts led to the arrest of 18-year-old Demetrius Bogan of Peekskill three weeks later, on July 27. The investigation continued, and in August, two more suspects were taken into custody: Sean Deleon of Shrub Oak and Yaro Gaddy Waller of Peekskill. All three men were subsequently indicted on multiple counts in connection with the death of Khalil Lyons.
The indictment alleged that both Bogan and Deleon were responsible for shooting and killing Lyons. Bogan and Deleon faced charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. Yaro Gaddy Waller was charged with hindering the prosecution and tampering with physical evidence as part of an attempted cover-up.
In a significant development in the case, Demetrius Bogan pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree in October 2019. This plea was accepted by the court, and he was scheduled for sentencing the following month. The prosecution of the case was handled by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, bringing a measure of justice to the family of Khalil Lyons, whose wife had publicly expressed her deep love for her husband and her desire for justice in the wake of his violent death.
