On a bright morning in the Bronx on May 1, 2018, a violent encounter cut short the life of 37-year-old Dwayne Saunders. The fatal incident unfolded around 11 a.m. at the corner of East 209th Street and Perry Avenue in the Norwood section. Saunders, a Queens resident, was in the area to have his car repaired when he, accompanied by his girlfriend, crossed paths with his ex-girlfriend.
The three decided to spend some time together in a nearby playground, a decision that would have tragic consequences.
It was in the park that they encountered Tyrone Frank, who was the ex-girlfriend's current partner. An altercation sparked by jealousy quickly escalated. Frank, 33, pulled out a handgun and began shooting at Saunders, who turned and ran for his life. Struck by two bullets in the stomach and groin, Saunders collapsed on the street. A bystander rushed to his aid, using napkins from a local store to try and stem the bleeding while waiting for help to arrive. Despite these efforts, Saunders was pronounced dead after being taken to Jacobi Medical Center.
In the aftermath of the shooting, police launched a search for the suspect, distributing wanted fliers with Frank's image. The investigation by detectives from the 52nd Precinct and the Bronx Homicide Task Force led to the arrest of Tyrone Frank on June 7, over a month after the fatal shooting. Frank was charged with murder and weapons possession. He had a prior criminal record, including being a registered sex offender.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a swift conclusion to the case. On July 9, 2018, at his arraignment, Tyrone Frank pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the killing of Dwayne Saunders.
