Police charge Deon Farley in Sunday's shooting death of Morgan McMahon.
This story was reported by staff writers Robert A. Baker and Jim O'Hara
Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse woman present during a drive-by shooting Sunday was shot in the head minutes later when a gun fired as a minivan hit a bump, Syracuse police said.
Morgan McMahon, 25, of Fairfield Ave., died a day later in Upstate University Hospital.
Deon Farley, 23, 245 W. Castle St., was charged Thursday with criminally negligent homicide and criminal possession of a weapon in McMahon’s death. He was arraigned this morning in City Court.
Farley was a passenger in the minivan Sunday evening and was sitting behind McMahon when a gun in his possession went off, Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler said.
Driving the minivan was Shikim Weston, 26, of 223 Warner Ave., who Fowler said was McMahon’s boyfriend. In the backseat behind Weston was Regina Crenshaw, 22, of Syracuse.
The minivan was leaving the scene of a shooting a few minutes earlier, Fowler said. Fowler said someone in the minivan fired at a car driven by Antwan Aiken, 26, of Syracuse, causing Aiken to crash his car at South Avenue and West Castle Street.
“It appears that Shikim Weston had an issue with Antwan Aiken,” Fowler said.
“It’s not clear who shot at Aiken,” Fowler said.
Court papers, however, say Weston fired a 40-caliber handgun at Aiken’s vehicle. After the crash, Aiken fled, court papers state. Farley went to Aiken’s vehicle and removed a loaded .22-caliber handgun from under the seat, court records state. Farley returned to the minivan with the gun, court records state.
The minivan then fled from the scene of the shooting, Fowler said, driving south on Midland Avenue. As the vehicle approached the intersection with West Colvin Street, Weston attempted to avoid the traffic light by going through a parking lot behind a corner store, Fowler said.
Fowler detailed what happened next:
As the minivan was going through the parking lot, Farley had the gun in his hand. The minivan hit a bump and the gun in Farley’s hand discharged. A bullet struck McMahon in the head.
The minivan continued on until it pulled over on Glahn Avenue about 6:05 p.m.. When it stopped, Farley ran from the vehicle as the others stayed behind.
The gun was being held by Farley with the hammer in a single-action position when it fired, court papers state.
Police recovered two handguns, Fowler said.
Court papers said the initial shooting occurred six minutes before the fatal shooting of McMahon. There was no physical evidence of anyone firing at Aiken’s car, but witnesses confirmed the shooting took place, Fowler said.
“It appears as though all the occupants were at the scene of the shooting,” Fowler said.
The weapons charge is the most serious of the two charges against Farley. It carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in state prison.
Criminally negligent homicide carries a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison. It is based on an allegation Farley failed to perceive the risk his conduct posed to the victim.
Weston was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the shooting at Aiken’s vehicle. Weston is on parole and being held at the county Justice Center on a parole violation, Fowler said.
Weston pleaded guilty in 2002 to a count of manslaughter in the death of Lakia Jones. He admitted to stabbing the 18-year-old woman in the chest. Weston received a six-year sentence in state prison in return for his plea.
Weston is scheduled to be arraigned Saturday before City Judge Vanessa Bogan. He was arrested at 10:45 p.m. Thursday.
Farley was arrested about 2 p.m. Thursday.
Police are not releasing a mug shot of Farley saying that they will be showing it to witnesses.
“There’s a lot of work yet in this investigation, a lot of missing pieces of the puzzle,” Fowler said.
There has been cooperation from witnesses, Fowler said, but “it took a while for us to get the complete details from the people in the vehicle.”
Farley was arraigned in City Court shortly after 10 a.m. on the charges and was ordered held at the Onondaga County Justice Center on $200,000 bail. Lawyer Tom Ryan was assigned to represent Farley. An not guilty plea was entered for Farley.
Farley's mother stood in court as her son was arraigned. Farley's family declined to comment after the arraignment.
Ryan said he just received the files and that it looks like the charge involves an accidental firing of a weapon.
Ryan declined to comment further on the case until he had time to review it.