In the early hours of May 22, 2017, Trevon Boswell, a 24-year-old man, was returning to his Mount Vernon, New York, apartment on Washington Street with his brother. After attending a rap showcase in Brooklyn, he was confronted in the hallway of his building and fatally shot. His family, who had only recently moved to the building, heard the commotion and brought him upstairs while they called for help.
The father of a young son, Boswell was the victim of a violent crime spree that had been terrorizing communities across Westchester County and the Bronx.
The investigation into his death moved swiftly, with law enforcement from Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers, and New York City collaborating on the case. Within 24 hours, a crucial piece of evidence, a ping from a stolen iPhone, led police to their suspects. Four men were initially arrested in connection with the widespread robbery spree and Boswell's murder. The perpetrators were identified as Eric Lee, Sincere Smith, Allen Copeland, and John Oquendo. Another accomplice, Leroy Garcia, was also charged. The group was indicted on a multitude of charges, including murder, robbery, and weapons possession, for their roles in a 12-hour crime wave that victimized sixteen people.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of justice for Trevon Boswell and the other victims. Eric Lee, the man who shot Boswell, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison. Sincere Smith pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and received a 23-year prison sentence. The other co-defendants involved in the violent spree also faced convictions and are serving prison time for their various roles in the series of robberies and the tragic, senseless death of Trevon Boswell.
