In the Bronx, on a Monday afternoon in late November 2016, a dispute erupted that ended the life of 24-year-old Desmen Dezzy Capone Muller. The young man, known to friends and neighbors as 'Dez,' was involved in an argument near Union Avenue and East 163rd Street just before 3 p.m. The confrontation tragically escalated when a gunman shot Muller once in the chest.
Emergency services transported him to nearby Lincoln Hospital, but his injury was too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The brazen daylight shooting was captured on a surveillance camera from a local deli. The video showed the assailant, clad in a grey sweatshirt, approaching a group of individuals before opening fire on Muller and then quickly fleeing the scene. The New York Police Department released the footage to the public in an effort to identify the shooter, who was seen running away after the incident. Despite this video evidence and appeals for information, the case has remained without a public resolution.
In the wake of his death, those who knew Desmen Muller painted a picture of a kind-hearted individual who was a familiar and friendly face in his neighborhood, often seen playing with local children. Friends revealed that he had been living with his aunt and was making efforts to improve his life by participating in a drug treatment program. A makeshift memorial with candles and heartfelt notes soon appeared outside his home, a testament to the impact he had on his community. The investigation into the murder of Desmen Dezzy Capone Muller has not led to any publicly announced arrests, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved justice for his loved ones.
