In the early afternoon of a warm summer day in Syracuse, New York, 15-year-old Adhon Thomas, a Black male, was at the Upper Onondaga Park Pool. On June 24, 2025, at approximately 2 p.m., a single gunshot rang out. Adhon was struck in the abdomen just outside the pool's fencing. First responders arrived to find him injured and quickly transported him to Upstate University Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Adhon Thomas succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The pool, which was busy with people seeking relief from the heat, was immediately closed as police began their investigation, recovering a single shell casing near the fence line.
The death of the teenager prompted an immediate and widespread response from the Syracuse community and its leaders. City officials lamented the violence and promised an increased police presence at local parks and pools to ensure public safety. The investigation into Adhon's death was swiftly classified as a homicide, triggering an extensive canvass of the area, the execution of multiple search warrants, and numerous interviews with potential witnesses. The community grieved the loss of the young man, who was remembered by his family as the joyful baby of the family who brought light and laughter wherever he went. Funeral services were scheduled for July 11 at the Belle Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
Within two weeks of the shooting, the Syracuse Police Department's investigation led them to a suspect. Detectives located and arrested another 15-year-old, Kyari Cunningham, at a residence on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Cunningham was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Following his arraignment, he was held at the Hillbrook Detention Facility. During a court appearance, it was revealed that the suspect had a prior, confidential criminal history. Authorities confirmed that only one shot was fired in the incident that took Adhon Thomas's life, and the investigation remained active even after the arrest as they continued to gather evidence.
