In the late afternoon of July 28, 2023, a tragedy unfolded in a parking garage on Highland Avenue in Yonkers, New York, that cut short the life of 16-year-old Pharrell Aguasvivas. The young man, a resident of the Bronx, was discovered unconscious at approximately 6:30 PM. First responders who arrived at the scene soon realized he had sustained a gunshot wound to his upper left back.
Despite their efforts and being rushed to a nearby hospital, Aguasvivas succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
An investigation by the Yonkers Police Department, involving detectives from the Major Case Squad, Crime Scene Unit, and Digital Forensics Unit, pieced together the events that led to the fatal shooting. It was determined that prior to the shooting, Aguasvivas had been involved in a physical altercation with two other teenagers on the bottom floor of the parking garage. The confrontation escalated tragically when one of the suspects discharged a firearm, striking Aguasvivas and causing his death.
In the weeks that followed, investigators were able to identify and apprehend two suspects, both residents of Yonkers. Due to their ages, 16 and 17, their identities were not publicly released. The two teenagers were arrested and faced a series of serious charges in the Youth Part of Westchester County Court. The charges against them included second-degree murder, first and second-degree robbery, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They were also charged with tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution. Following their arrest, both young men were remanded without bail.
