By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times
A weekend shooting in a Morningside Heights neighborhood claimed the life of a rising High School athlete when a verbal argument turned deadly just after 4 a.m. Sunday. Sources say the shooters may be from a neighboring housing project who came to the Grant projects looking for a man they argued with earlier.
Tayshana Murphy, 18, was partying with friends in the hallway of 3170 Broadway when a group of unidentified individuals showed up. Murphy and several others ran into an adjoining stairwell to flee the gunmen but they followed Murphy and shot her. Residents of the apartment building said they heard the shots and were horrified to learn that the victim was Murphy.
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| Tayshana Murphy, 18, killed in Grant Projects |
Details remain sketchy and police are still not sure what actually led to the shooting, but witnesses say Murphy, a senior at Murry Bergtraum High School, was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and may have been mistaken for a man the shooters were looking for.
Her friend, Teka Taylor said the young student begged for her life after she was cornered, telling the roughnecks that she had "nothing to do with it." As Murphy cowered in fear, she was shot three times and died at the scene.
Another friend described the high school junior as "wild, funny and sweet." Her mother, Tiffany Holston, said she was dancing, discussing the new school year and having a good time 30 minutes prior to the shooting.
“I have to hold it together,“ Holston told the NY Post, “I’m in my own zone. You see how everyone loved her.”
Known to friends and fellow athletes as "Chicken," Murphy played point guard at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School before joining Bergtraum, and suffered a knee injury while playing basketball in 2010. Her ACL surgery kept off the court for an entire season. ESPN's "HoopGurlz" recruiting site ranked her #16 point guard for the Class of 2012.
Today, loved ones erected a Facebook page dedicated to the young woman where many expressed shock and sadness after hearing about her senseless murder.
Joyclen Ladii J Hopper wrote: "Chicken !!!! Words can't even explain how I feel riqht now , all I remember is us chillinq outside of qrant &+ yhu was dancinq , been silly &+ talkinq shit about ppl ! You was beinq YOU &+ that's why I like you ! Wish I would of came to new york this summer but I'll be seeinq you soon , im prayinq for you &+ your family ! Love you chicken ♥ It's kinda hard with you not around , Know you in heaven smilin down , Watchin us while we pray for you , Every day we pray for you , Til the day we meet again, In my heart is where I'll keep you friend. *R.I.P*"
Tracee Cotton wrote: "can't believe ur gone still remember those eyes u were too young to go, my heart goes out to ur family, may you S.I. P. babygirl!"
Shakima Harkless wrote: "S.I.P chicken...you had big plans for yourself but i'm pretty sure the ones god called you home for are far grander...smh...gone but you will never be forgotten..."
Dawn Gentile wrote: "I am horrified. I was in shock when I got the phone call from Ms. Taylor this morning. This young person had so much promise for the future. My heart literally bleeds for her family at this time."
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. If you have any information regarding the shooting, please call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, text "TIP577" (plus your message) to "CRIMES" (274637), or submit a tip online.
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| Tayshana Murphy/Facebook |
Another friend described the high school junior as "wild, funny and sweet." Her mother, Tiffany Holston, said she was dancing, discussing the new school year and having a good time 30 minutes prior to the shooting.
“I have to hold it together,“ Holston told the NY Post, “I’m in my own zone. You see how everyone loved her.”
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| Murphy and friend/Facebook |
Today, loved ones erected a Facebook page dedicated to the young woman where many expressed shock and sadness after hearing about her senseless murder.
Joyclen Ladii J Hopper wrote: "Chicken !!!! Words can't even explain how I feel riqht now , all I remember is us chillinq outside of qrant &+ yhu was dancinq , been silly &+ talkinq shit about ppl ! You was beinq YOU &+ that's why I like you ! Wish I would of came to new york this summer but I'll be seeinq you soon , im prayinq for you &+ your family ! Love you chicken ♥ It's kinda hard with you not around , Know you in heaven smilin down , Watchin us while we pray for you , Every day we pray for you , Til the day we meet again, In my heart is where I'll keep you friend. *R.I.P*"
Tracee Cotton wrote: "can't believe ur gone still remember those eyes u were too young to go, my heart goes out to ur family, may you S.I. P. babygirl!"
Shakima Harkless wrote: "S.I.P chicken...you had big plans for yourself but i'm pretty sure the ones god called you home for are far grander...smh...gone but you will never be forgotten..."
Dawn Gentile wrote: "I am horrified. I was in shock when I got the phone call from Ms. Taylor this morning. This young person had so much promise for the future. My heart literally bleeds for her family at this time."
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