In the early hours of the Fourth of July, a celebration at a house party in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens, New York, turned tragic, ending the life of 37-year-old Travanti Rankine. A Black male known for his passion for reggae music and his work as a DJ within the Jamaican community, Rankine was also a dedicated father of two and an electrician at Carle Place High School. The festive atmosphere of the gathering on Montauk Street was shattered at approximately 5:07 a.m.
when an altercation broke out among attendees. The dispute escalated with horrifying speed, culminating in gunfire.
During the chaos, a single bullet struck Travanti Rankine in the abdomen. Emergency responders arrived at the scene near 119th Road and swiftly transported him to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Despite the efforts of medical staff, the wound proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead. His wife, Sasha-Marie, received the devastating news from a friend and rushed to the hospital, only to learn that the man she described as a loving father and local artist could not be saved. The sudden and violent loss has left his family and community enveloped in grief.
In the wake of the shooting, the New York Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Authorities released surveillance footage that captured a masked individual fleeing the scene, a firearm visible in his hand. The suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion, who at the time was wearing a black knit head covering, a white t-shirt, black shorts, and white sneakers. Despite the video evidence and a public appeal for information, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Travanti Rankine. The investigation remains active as his loved ones await justice.
