An 18-year-old male, Tyreek J. Prince, was tragically killed in a shooting in Troy, New York, on May 31, 2015. The incident occurred after midnight near the intersection of Old Sixth Avenue and Hutton Street, an area known for drug and gun violence. Prince was shot multiple times and was reportedly the intended target of the shooter or shooters. Another individual, a man in his 50s, was also shot in the arm but was believed to be an innocent bystander.
Both victims were transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where Prince ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Just weeks before his death, Prince had been the victim of another shooting in Albany on April 18, 2015. In that incident, he was shot in the leg. After being taken to the hospital in a private vehicle, a search of that vehicle by police uncovered a loaded and an unloaded handgun. Consequently, Prince was arrested and faced felony weapons possession charges. He had pleaded not guilty and was out on bail at the time of his murder.
Following Prince's death, the Troy Police Department launched a homicide investigation. They increased patrols in areas considered to be hotspots for violence. Community leaders and organizations also responded to the violence, with plans for a peace rally and the implementation of the 'Cure Violence' program, which treats violence as a public health issue.
Despite the ongoing investigation and pleas from law enforcement for information from the public, there have been no publicly reported arrests or naming of suspects in the murder of Tyreek Prince. His case is considered one of several unsolved homicides that occurred in Troy during that period, with some speculation that it may have been related to gang violence. Memorials with candles, balloons, and notes were left at the scene of the shooting in his memory.
