In the spring of 2017, the life of 21-year-old Naqual Mohammed 'Dookie' Bloodworth was tragically cut short on a street he knew well in Syracuse, New York. On the evening of April 3rd, Bloodworth was fatally shot on Gifford Street, in the very neighborhood where he had grown up. After being wounded, he managed to make his way to his cousin's nearby front porch before collapsing. He was rushed to University Hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
A father to a young daughter, his death left a significant void in the lives of his parents, siblings, and the wider community.
The investigation into Naqual Bloodworth's homicide has been a source of ongoing pain and frustration for his family, as the case remains unsolved with no arrests made. His mother, Christy Bynum, has been a vocal critic of the Syracuse Police Department's handling of the investigation, expressing her belief that not enough has been done to bring her son's killer to justice. This sentiment has been shared by other families in the area who have also lost loved ones to unsolved homicides.
The Syracuse Police Department has pointed to challenges such as staffing shortages, which led to the disbanding of their cold case unit, as significant hurdles in solving cases like Bloodworth's. Despite receiving tips and conducting interviews over the years, no substantial leads have emerged to break the case open. The community has continued to support the family's call for justice, urging anyone with information to come forward. For the family and friends of Naqual Bloodworth, the absence of answers has meant a prolonged state of grief and a search for closure that continues to this day. The case officially remains an open investigation.
