In the late evening hours of Tuesday, August 29, 2023, the life of 23-year-old Kelvonn Godbolt was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence on the South Side of Syracuse, New York. Godbolt had ridden his bicycle to a convenience store in the 1900 block of South Avenue to purchase drinks to celebrate his 24th birthday, which was the very next day. It was a celebration he would never get to have. At approximately 7:18 p.m., he was shot.
Despite being rushed to Upstate University Hospital, Godbolt succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Syracuse Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts led them to identify 22-year-old Marley Oselmo as the suspect. An arrest warrant was issued, and Oselmo was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Authorities considered him to be armed and dangerous and sought the public's help in locating him. The search for Oselmo concluded on September 18, 2023, when he turned himself in to the Geddes Police Department. He was taken into custody without incident and held at the Onondaga County Justice Center.
The legal proceedings that followed brought some measure of closure to Godbolt's grieving family. Marley Oselmo pleaded guilty to the charges against him. In May 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the murder of Kelvonn Godbolt. During the sentencing, Godbolt's family had the opportunity to express their profound grief and anger directly to Oselmo. His mother, Stephanie Murphy, and his aunt, Kayla Schroder, both addressed the court, speaking of the immense loss their family has endured. Oselmo, who was captured on video committing the crime, remained expressionless and did not speak during the sentencing. Kelvonn Godbolt, a graduate of Corcoran High School and Job Corps with a degree in masonry, was remembered as a hard worker and a beloved family member.
