In the spring of 2022, the life of 21-year-old Amya Mone’ Cornin, known affectionately as Mya, was tragically cut short. On Monday, March 21, 2022, the young African American woman from New Orleans, Louisiana, was killed in a brutal act of gun violence that also claimed the lives of two men, 27-year-old Darrin Williams and 24-year-old Nehemiah Jones.
The triple homicide occurred inside an apartment in the Gentilly neighborhood, leaving a community in mourning and a family devastated by the sudden and violent loss.
The investigation into the killings led authorities to a suspect, Tyrone Steele. In a significant development for the case, the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office announced in March 2024 that they had secured first and second-degree murder convictions against Steele. The prosecution presented a compelling case, weaving together evidence from multiple crime scenes that included ballistics analysis, DNA evidence, surveillance footage, and social media posts to link Steele to the murders of Cornin, Williams, Jones, and two other individuals.
Described as a 'violent predator' by District Attorney Jason Williams, Steele's conviction brought a measure of justice for the victims and their families. The successful prosecution was the result of meticulous police work and the dedication of the district attorney's trial team. While the legal proceedings have brought a conviction, the profound grief and the void left by Amya Mone’ Cornin's untimely death remain.
