In the early morning hours of June 6, 2015, tragedy struck in a parking lot of the East River Houses on East 105th Street in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood. Anthony V Cosico-Fries, an 18-year-old male, was fatally shot in the stomach at approximately 4:30 a.m. The violence of that morning also left two other men wounded. A 36-year-old man suffered critical injuries from gunshot wounds to his right shoulder and midsection, while a 30-year-old man was in stable condition after being shot in
the right shoulder. Emergency services rushed Anthony to Harlem Hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
For years, the case of Anthony's death remained unsolved, leaving his family, particularly his mother, in a prolonged state of grief and uncertainty as they prayed for justice. The investigation carried on, a quiet but persistent effort to find those responsible for the fatal shooting. The area had been experiencing a spike in violence, with Anthony's death being one of six homicides at New York City Housing Authority complexes within an 11-day period, adding to the community's distress and the pressure on law enforcement to find answers.
A significant breakthrough in the case finally came in November 2022, more than seven years after the incident. Police arrested 25-year-old Tyrell Lewis, an ex-convict with a history of arrests for charges including assault, robbery, and drug sales. Lewis, who lived in East Harlem just ten blocks from the scene of the crime, had been released from prison two years prior after serving time for an attempted murder conviction. His parole had ended only three months before he was taken into custody and charged with Anthony's murder.
Investigators identified Lewis as one of two men allegedly involved in the shooting that claimed Anthony's life. While it was not immediately clear whether he was the gunman or an accomplice, his arrest marked a pivotal moment in the long-standing investigation. The news brought a complex mix of relief and sorrow to Anthony's family, as the prospect of justice finally seemed within reach after years of waiting and wondering. The arraignment for the murder charge was pending in Manhattan Criminal Court, setting the stage for the next chapter in a case that had long haunted a family and a community.
