On a warm summer evening in Rochester, New York, 34-year-old Phylicia 'Phe' Council was enjoying a community barbecue at Maplewood Park. The event, held on July 28, 2024, was filled with hundreds of people in a celebratory mood when the festive atmosphere was shattered by the eruption of gunfire around 6:20 p.m. The sudden violence sparked chaos and panic, sending attendees scrambling for safety in a stampede to flee the scene.
In the wake of the shooting, it was discovered that multiple
weapons had been fired into the crowd, leaving a devastating toll. Phylicia Council was one of seven people struck by the barrage of bullets. She was rushed to a local hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. Another woman, 25-year-old Tyasia Manning, a city employee, was also fatally wounded in the attack. Five other individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Phylicia was remembered by her father as his 'baby girl' and was known for her decade of dedicated work with special needs children at a Hillside group home, where she was regarded as a loving and caring professional.
The Rochester Police Department immediately launched an intensive investigation into the mass shooting, describing the perpetrators as 'unmitigated cowards.' Despite the large number of witnesses present at the park, authorities have faced challenges in obtaining cooperation from the public. In the months following the incident, police identified multiple individuals who were armed at the park.
In February 2025, a significant development occurred in the case with the arrest of 21-year-old Niger Johnson. He was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly firing a handgun during the incident. However, investigators have stated that they do not believe Johnson's shots struck any of the victims, and as of yet, no one has been charged directly with the murders of Phylicia Council and Tyasia Manning. The investigation remains active and ongoing as authorities continue to seek the individuals responsible for the fatal shots. In the meantime, Phylicia's family continues to grieve their loss and has established a GoFundMe campaign to offer a reward for information that leads to the arrest of her killers.
