On a late Monday evening in Perrysburg, New York, a dispute between acquaintances escalated into a tragic act of violence that left two young men dead and another injured. The incident, which unfolded on August 4, 2025, on the Cattaraugus Indian Territory, claimed the life of 23-year-old Ryan A. Mohawk. A member of the Seneca Nation, Mohawk was behind the wheel of his 2012 Buick Verano on Whites Drive when the fatal encounter occurred.
Earlier in the day, an argument had taken place
between Mohawk, his passenger Caleb H. Stafford, 23, and 18-year-old Tylin O. Thomas Jr. The disagreement festered, and with all individuals having some level of intoxication, the stage was set for a devastating confrontation. Shortly before 11:30 p.m., Thomas, armed with an AK-47 style rifle, stood outside Mohawk's vehicle and opened fire. At least nine shots were fired, fatally striking Mohawk and injuring Stafford.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Thomas turned the weapon on himself, taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Despite his injuries, Stafford managed to drive the car to a nearby home to summon law enforcement. When New York State Police arrived, they found a scene that would ultimately be classified as a murder-suicide. Autopsies later confirmed that Mohawk's death was a homicide and Thomas's was a suicide. Stafford was treated for his injuries at Erie County Medical Center and was subsequently released, cooperating with the ongoing investigation. No arrests were made as the sole suspect was deceased at the scene.
