In the brisk evening air of November 1, 2016, a dispute shattered the relative calm at the corner of Lincoln Place and Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Cosmos Charles, a 31-year-old man, found himself in a heated altercation that tragically escalated to gunfire. Around 8:50 p.m., the sound of four gunshots pierced the night. Charles attempted to flee his attacker, but his escape was cut short as he collapsed onto the sidewalk, having been fatally wounded.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Living at the nearby Renaissance Men's Shelter on Ralph Avenue, Charles was known to be experiencing homelessness. The investigation into his death quickly revealed that the dispute was drug-related. A quantity of crack cocaine was discovered in his pocket, suggesting a transaction had gone terribly wrong. Witnesses described the shooter as a man dressed in black, and surveillance footage from the area would prove crucial in identifying the individuals involved in the tragic events of that night.
Within days, the Brooklyn North Violent Felony Squad made arrests in connection with the murder of Cosmos Charles. Tarrence Webb, 26 years old at the time, was identified as the shooter and subsequently charged with murder. Surveillance video and witness testimony were key in his identification. Another man, 31-year-old Dexter Mason, was also taken into custody. Mason was not the triggerman but was seen on video picking up the murder weapon, a rare 5.7-caliber pistol, and disposing of it. For his role in attempting to cover up the crime, Mason was charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence. His bail was set at $20,000. Webb was arraigned on charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
