In the early morning hours of July 23, 2024, Idriss Cherif El Farissy, a 28-year-old man originally from Morocco, was ending his shift as a delivery driver for Papa John's. Having recently moved to the Bronx with his wife in October 2023, he was working a second job to provide for his family, with whom he was planning an upcoming vacation. Known for his cheerful personality and strong work ethic, he had been recognized as 'Employee of the Month' twice during his eight months at the pizzeria. Just before 3 a.m., as he returned to his home near East 176th Street and Mohegan Avenue, his life was tragically cut short. He was on the phone with his wife, telling her he was parking the car, when the call ended. Moments later, she heard gunshots outside their home.
An assailant, described as wearing a black hoodie, approached El Farissy in an apparent robbery attempt and shot him in the head. Surveillance footage captured the gunman searching through El Farissy's pockets before fleeing the scene on a bicycle. Emergency services responded to a 911 call and found him with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The community was left in shock, mourning the loss of a man described as a kind, multilingual, and devoted family man who embodied the pursuit of the American dream. El Farissy had immigrated to the United States at the age of 17, earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Baruch College, and worked for over five years as a provider contracts manager at Emblem Health in addition to his delivery job.
The New York City Police Department actively investigated the homicide, releasing surveillance footage of the suspect to the public for assistance. In February 2025, an arrest was made. The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Jailyn Wagner, who was revealed to be the son of a tenant living in the same apartment building as El Farissy. Wagner was subsequently indicted and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. The investigation also linked Wagner to another fatal shooting that occurred just six days after El Farissy's death, only a short distance away. He was arraigned and remanded, with a court date set for May 23, 2025.
