In the quiet evening hours of October 24, 2017, the community of West Babylon, New York, was disturbed by the sound of gunshots. Responding to a call at approximately 8:25 p.m., Suffolk County police officers arrived at the corner of North Arizona Road and Delaware Road to a grim scene. There, lying in the street next to his vehicle, was 22-year-old Ricardo Tross, a male resident of Valley Stream.
He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Originally from Elmont, Tross was a young man with dreams and ambitions. Friends remember him as an aspiring professional baseball player who also managed a local rap group. The motive for his killing remains unclear, though there was some speculation by unnamed sources that it may have been related to a drug deal. His family, however, was unaware of why he was in West Babylon that night. A memorial of candles was later placed at the site of the shooting, a somber reminder of a life cut short.
In the wake of the shooting, the Suffolk County Police Department's Homicide Squad launched an investigation, appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of those responsible. A reward of up to $5,000 was offered for tips that could lead to an arrest. Despite these efforts, the case has grown cold. To date, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Ricardo Tross. The investigation officially remains open, leaving his family and community still searching for answers and justice.
