In the late summer evening of August 15, 2017, a dispute simmering between two groups in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens, New York, tragically escalated, claiming the life of 21-year-old Teriana Holcombe. A bright and caring young woman, Holcombe worked as a camp counselor for the Young People's Day Camp of Queens, where she was cherished by campers, parents, and staff alike for her fun-filled spirit.
She had been with the camp since 2013, starting as a counselor and eventually becoming a division head.
The fatal encounter unfolded just before 9:30 p.m. near the corner of 198th Street and Murdock Avenue. Earlier that day, a friend of Holcombe's had been involved in a physical altercation. Later that evening, Holcombe, her boyfriend, and her friends encountered the other group again. An argument reignited, and amidst the heated exchange, a man pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots. One of the bullets struck Holcombe in the head. She was rushed to Jamaica Hospital but was ultimately pronounced dead. The shooting occurred just ten blocks from her home.
Ten days after the shooting, Jonel Lattore, a 34-year-old man from the neighborhood with a history of prior arrests, turned himself in to the police. He was subsequently charged with murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. Authorities stated that Lattore was part of the group that had the ongoing dispute with Holcombe's friends. While the root of the years-long feud remained unclear, the immediate catalyst for the violence was the argument that drew Holcombe and her friends back to the street that night.
In November 2021, Jonel Lattore, then 38, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter in the first degree. The following month, a Queens Supreme Court Justice sentenced him to 17 years in prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision. The resolution of the case brought a measure of justice for a senseless act of gun violence that cut short the life of a beloved young woman.
