14-Year-Old Shot Dead on Troy Avenue
A 14-year-old Brooklyn boy was shot to death just blocks from his home, police said Thursday.
Tyrek O’Hara-Morris took a bullet in the head about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday as he walked with pals on Troy Avenue and Park Place in Crown Heights, cops said.
“He was just out with friends,” his mother Althea O’Hara said. “It was a nice, hot summer day.”
Tyrek was taken to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. No arrests have been made.
Police sources said the youth, who attended Automotive High School in Fort Greene, had been arrested several times in the past for fighting.
One young man said he ran to help after gunshots rang out.
“I heard ‘pop-pop’ when I was on the corner up the street. I ran over and there was a crowd around him,” he said.
Relatives said although Tyrek had gotten into some trouble in the streets, he had good heart and came from a strong, caring family.
“We all tried hard to intervene and let him know to try to be on the right path,” said his aunt Constance O’Hara-Budd, a teacher from Valley Stream, L.I.
“Normally when these things happen, you hear people come on the news and they say, ‘Oh, my son was good kid,’ but he was a good kid.”
Tyrek’s mother said her son was set to travel to England to spend the summer with his father in Bristol.
“He was looking forward to this summer,” she said. “He was finally going to spend the summer with his father. This was going to be a new beginning for him.”
Tyrone Drek
Tyrek? Isn’t that a bulletproof fiber from DuPont? Or was his real name Tyrone Drek?
In any case, Sing Sing just lost a promising future recruit.
Kan Tzivah
“been arrested several times in the past for fighting” + “but he was a good kid.” = only in crown heights
Tova
This is absolutely horrible. When we get to the point that people are shooting kids, what do we do?
Popcorn Cake
This is crazy! I think we need to ban guns in this city, oh wait, banning guns would still allow the shooter to have a gun, because he doesn’t care about the law.
But, allowing guns (which NYC doesn’t), the law abiding citizen would make the shooter more scared to shoot in public etc, because he’s not sure who’s locked and loaded. And if there was someone who did have a gun there, this tragedy might have never happened.
eli
#1, #2 G-d will reward you both for your witty comment. you’re both pigs and are 2 reasons why ch is in the ung-dly shape it is. the rebbe died because of ur kind.
Traci
This is in response to Kan Tzivah, my name is Traci and I am Tyrek’s cousin. Regardless of what he has done in the past, I find you cruel and very insensitive to downplay this tragedy by addressing the fact that he was arrested in the past. You never know anyone’s situation until you have been in their shoes and how dare you speak negatively about him! My family is torn forever and that is someone’s child who will be laying down to rest. A fourteen year old that never experienced life. God bless your soul, there are a million and one things I could say to you, but I choose to leave it with God.
Reply to Tracey.
Tracey. We are truly sorry for your tragic loss.
However you must realize that most parents in CH worry that a “good kid” like Tyrek will hurt or injure or do worse to some Jewish “good kis” who has not been in fights and is not looking to harm anyone else.
Unfortunately your cousin is painted with a big brush which he may not deserve, but being arrested a few times prevents one from giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Annonymous
there should be a way to keep guns out of the hands of people who do not know what guns do. And think that it is a joke when they shoot. People kill and guns kill. no matter who is behind the gun and who is in front of it. We should not here this kind of action from anyone in any community and my heart feels for your family this is a loss in any household. peace be with you
Really Scanning comments b4 posting
2 1# & #2 how could 1st of all CH. info put up such comments don’t u edit them ? I agree with # 5 y did u guys put them up all 2gether maybe u really didn’t scan the 1st 2. From this we learn we really have 2 scan the comments better.
CHR
#1 and #2
send your neshomas to the dry cleaners….fast!
you think you can hide anonymously
no
you will face Hashem and He will have these comments you wrote in hand
are you embarrassed?
if you are,
just wait till the Heavenly Court!
It aint no picnic.
Nachman Yitzchak
According 2 #9 we should really erase # 1 & 2 & NOT jUST LEAVE IT UP, if we care about others lets erase it & get rid of it letting it be there just shows us that those comments r ok bec if they r not OK we wouldn’t let them stay then u could keep this comment bec it will be showing how we made a mistake of letting insensitive comments stay up
Ms.Cain
So often the media depict our children in a negative way. Him being arrested had what to do with his murder? The pain and sense of lost his family must feel now. I know tyrek he was friends with my son javon who is heart broken now. Instead of judging let’s help in understanding why and how can we stop this from happening again
Crown Heights resident close to the area
This is sad. The loss of a life… This is someone’s child/brother/friend/relative…and growing crime makes it unsafe for all.
I hope Hashem watches over all of us.
Ganayvus Daas
I opened this article thinking I am reading about a Jewish boy! What does this have to do with our community? Why not call yourself the New York Times and report on every non-Jewish happening. Whats the difference really? Instead you waste our time thinking you are writing about something relevant for the Jewish community. Its not fair. Trying to build hype and scare people. In Jewish this is called: “Ganayvus Daas”
critical of New York Judges
Two items are needed, espeically as they have forcasts of increased crime rate in New York: One, more police visability and two, Judges who take these bad people off the streets. But this being New York under the Bloomberg watch will not see this occur.
#5
and what about your comment?
whatever happens is for the good and because g-d wants that to happen.
how can u say that the rebbe passed away because of other people?!?!?!
thinkbefore you write!
yes #1 and #2 were not nice, but does that mean that u should also be?
Janice Isaac
To #8 – Yes, we have little sympathy for anyone who’s been arrested. Less so for someone who’s been convicted. How’s Rubashkin, by the way? Anybody hear from him in prison?
You people should be ashamed of yourself. Tracy, all Jews aren’t like these heartless idiots. I’m a Jew and I’m very sorry for your loss.
Another reply to tracey
Tracey,
First off, I would like to personally apologize for the above offensive comments. Please keep in mind that the Jewish community, unfortunately, is plagued with disgusting and harmful individuals just like every other community. We are taught in our Torah to have respect for all human beings. Someone that is an actual religious Jew (and not just in name only) would never make comments like #1 and #2 above. G-d made your cousin and he did not deserve the unfortunate and painful end that he reached. There are many people in our society living normal and peaceful lives that were at one time or another in the criminal justice system. I hope that your family can make it through this tragedy and again I apologize for the disgusting individuals, they are a minority.
Just Sayin-
“Traci”- idiots come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but somehow all of them find their way to internet posting boards. I’m sorry for your unfortunate loss, and I’m sorry you have to endure the insensitivity of those who speak before they think. I’m sure there are many others who share my sentiments. RIP Tyrek.
“Reply to Traci”- There are plenty of “good Jewish kids” who have been arrested or detained for minor infractions over the course of time, yet if one of them was chv”sh shot and killed, you wouldn’t dare think to bring up past misdeeds. A tragic, senseless killing will always be just that and nothing more.
The kid wasn’t a drug dealer and he wasn’t known to be involved in dangerous gangs (at least that I’ve seen in published reports). He was arrested for fighting. We all know plenty of our own who are involved in much worse. Please be sensitive to the fact that this boy had a mother, father, and relatives who loved him and will miss him, and let’s leave it at that.
Curious
I’m just so confused as to how Tracey got onto Crownheights.info. . . a Chabad Website??
Maybe people should watch what they say before sending in their comments??
If you are still on, Tracey (?) I want to say, I’m sorry about your cousin;
have a heart!!!!!!!
you people are all nuts! someones dead. Just be sorry for their loss! We don’t know anything about him to judge!!! I’m sorry for you tracy and other family or friend of tyrek!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michoel Shimon
Please remove the 1st 2 comments !! This is not the way the Torah & the Rebbe taught us 2 laugh @ other ppls pain, im not just writing this please take it down. No 1 has the right 2 take any1 elses life only HKBH has that right no1 else. If some1 does HKBH will get u. But this is not what the torah is about. So take off those comments bec if u don’t by leaving it there means u don’t mind what it says & u agree with it.
A volunteer in Crownheights
To all people I say come out and join SOS Save Our Streets Crown Heights for the Shooting response of this young man. Park Place and Troy Ave 6:00pm. Every life is valuable. As a community member also I know that it takes the unity of each one of us to make a difference. There is no reason to be nasty or have a “I dont care attitude” because we all matter and the summer has not even arrived and there is shooting and killings. I Support Save Our Streets Crown Heights,and I support the Crown Heights residents. When one hurts we all should hurt. Please come out tomorrow. Your presence says enough is enough, stop the shooting.
to number 18
To #18, I agree with you. This is so sad, all human beings are G-d’s children. This boy did deserve a chance to turn his life around. The Crown Heights community, Jewish and not needs to stand up and say “enough”, and start thinking about prevention…
Ash
BDE
Janice Isaac
Note: my earlier comment was not for #8 (as I mistakenly wrote) but for those who said that the poor boy’s history branded him a criminal and not worthy of our sympathy.
How can you remove those two comments ?
you cant remove comments 1 and 2 because then you will damage the rest of the comments that address those two which you would like to remove. Traci your family should work to spear head a campaign against violence its just senseless.
anonymous
In regards to Kan Tzivah and ecscpecially Tyrone drek, this is 14 year old boy who’s life has just began and taken away from him. If you have nothing positive to say you should not leave any comments. obviously you both are racist pigs. The criminal system is design to get every black male on file, it is normal for kids to get into fights, any little chance the police get they will arrest a black man instead of breaking it up an sending them home. so please do not go from what they are trying to paint this young man to be.
RIP young man.
bassya
to all numbers i sooooooooooooooooooo agree they should close down all gun stores in the world unless someone makes a good exuse!! who agrees?????? someone say if hey agree!!!!!!
Lowlives
Sorry, but he would have grown up to be a criminal. It is not only Jews in the area who are sick of these juvenile delinquents. You don’t arrest someone for fighting in NYC unless he’s really dangerous.
I hope they find and lock up whoever did it as well; then we’re 2 lowlives down.
To #30, yet another idiot
Hello Mr. Idiot (aka #30)
You clearly know nothing about the criminal justice system in NYC and the institutional racism that it is permeated with. Many black men and youth are arrested for basically nothing to fill quotas. It happens daily.
Also, your assumption that he would grow up to be a criminal is absurd. You are a prophet? You are G-d? How can you possibly know that? The only thing I know for sure about this situation is that you will grow up to be a greater idiot than you are now.
I am ashamed to be a Jew
# 30- you are the lowest of all!
Do you people realize what you are saying? Get your black and white outfists off- I am sure all of you that are saying negative things are pretending to be religious jews. Shame on you!
Do you realize what do you make other jews in the world look like,and what PAIN you cause with your comments to the family members of this young boy? Whether non jewish people read it or not, you should never talk or think like that!
RA from da MARKS
You people are very ignoant living in the ghetto and being black is almost impossible to go thru life without one arrest just sitting in front of the building you live in is enough for arrest being black and poor = arrest of course your Jewish kids don’t have arrest records that’s because you have your own police and a very strong community that has political and financial clout for you to sit behind your fancy MAC book in your fancy family owned brownstone and point the finger at a young man I personally knew is beyond evil and crass move your well to do *** to the hood and I guarantee by summers end you will have an arrest record!
Kan Tzivah - #2 Responding
What are people getting all worked up over my statement? I was not making light of his death. I was pointing out that the term “good kid” is used to describe someone who has been arrested multiple times! This is the root of the problem. he’s really a good kid at heart so let him be… right? Nobody is happy that he was killed, but reality check here. He was NOT a good kid. Good kids don’t do bad stuff…
separate the actions from the person right?
= only in crown heights…..
Lowlives
I stand by what I said. This accusation of racism is just plain – racism. Repeated arrests are for real crime, not for racial reasons. Plenty of fine black cops out there, plenty of fine black professionals especially in the Crown Heights area. If you get arrested, there is a reason. And zero tolerance is the way to stop crime.
If anything there is more evidence of a conspiracy to ticket Jews for minor offenses, automatically blame Jewish victims of crime and to ignore complaints made by Jews.
The streets exacted their cruel justice on someone who helped add to the cruelty of the streets.
Levi
#1 and #2 you two should be ashamed of yourselves this boy was a living being that was killed. And you make a joke out of it!? Who cares if he was arrested in the past! He was one of us! Next time think before you write!
You are making all Jews look bad!
SHAME ON YOU!
The Guy with the Dog
Is there contact info anywhere if we want to give the family emotional support?
x mrak the spot
To comments 1 & 2 Dont worry ur day comeing & it gunno be weaping & moaning & im gunno be laughing ha hah
Tyrek Dads
Responding to the racist pigs Kan Tzivah & tyrone drek do any of you know my son, Tyrek where do u racist pigs get ur information from that he was arrested multiple time have any of u ever check the facts on that let police release is record to public i will prove how rong u both are, often time the media depict our chilren in anegative light & people like u & Drek jus grab it run with it my son is kid come from a decent family funn how one media rumour can generate a lot of misconcieve perception i could a lot about u jews & this is no rumour i’m talking first hand experience cause i live in crown hieghts for almost 14 years,
why allow racist comments?
The question isn’t why doesn’t the moderator remove the racist comments. The question is: Why did he/she post it to begin with?
eli
#15 Yes #1, #2 represent MOST of that cult group in CH; and, it is my opinion that the rebbe was sick over the ignorance and cult his followers were developing using HIS FACE.
Lyone
How difficult it is to keep even the smallest principles of Torah. The first concept in the foundations of Justice is to not treat others in such a way that you would not want to be treated. This pertains not only to fellow Jews, of course, but to everyone.
What would you have people say (or not) about you when you die? About a child of yours?
Every moment of every day, we are each making decisionsand taking actions that are either making the world better–and thus helping to bring Moshiach–or keeping it a low place–and thus delaying His coming. As Jews, we are supposed to be the *LEADERS* in morality. It is not good enough to be angry about others’ faults. We are supposed to be better.
But what does being better actually mean? Does it mean sitting in judgement of others—or does it mean treating others from a more elevated, dignified, compasionate, and just perspective? How did the Rebbe treat those who were down and out, who made mistakes, who were criminals? The facts on this matter are quite eye opening.
Lowlives
39, thanks for the laugh. You are so obviously a product of Montreal yeshiva. I would have said OT but “colour” gives it away – unless Stamford Hillbillies come out functionally illiterate as well.
Lowlives
42, if coddling criminals is chas vesholom what the Rebbe was all about – and he was NOT – then I am a proud misnaged. The 7 Mitzvos campaign was all about preventing Tyreks and their murderers from making the streets dangerous for decent people of all colors.
Establishing laws means HANG THEM HIGH for bnei Noach who can’t live in society.
The Rebbe was not a new age Barney the Dinosaur or Rodney King. He was a clear moral voice when it came to the ills of our society.
Upset Esq. in Crown Heights
My condolences goes out to the family of the child. #1 has the unmitigated gall to state that this child would have been a member of the Sing Sing population. That is just pure, unadulterated hatred. No respect at all. I am sure the creators of this forum did not intend for it to be used in this negative light. Parents have lost a son and there are comments that remain despite the fact that they are highly inappropriate. It says here that comments must be approved before being submitted. Where is the approval? I can only hope that the system has a problem; as the approval of these horrid statements suggests that the beliefs of the bloggers are shared by those who have created and police this forum.
CH
#20 – guess what- non-jews ARE reading the material on a Chabad website. And I am seeing the racist hate on here and I am DISGUSTED!!! I am White, not jewish, and I live in the neighborhood, and you can accuse me of whatever you like, but the reality is, YES, maybe you should watch what you say; I guess being racist is okay when only Jews are reading these disgusting comments, but now you know that others are on here and can see the true colors of a lot of folks posting on here.
What is troubling is that the a lot of the comments on here, if directed at Jews, would be considered anti-semetic. So, why is it OK for you to call Black people animals? And to blame our Black president for every ill that he INHERITED when he took office!!!
Truly a double-standard!!! Let’s see if my post even gets published!!!
And believe me, I am going to forward some of the material from this site to people in the Crown Heights community, because, guess what- there are people living here who do have a voice, and you all need to be OUTED on your racism.
poppy uk .
i came across this sight by accident, and i was reading this sad story of the death of a child dont matter ,if he as been arrested or been in a fight , come on let kids be kids i was born in the 1960 and was born and live in england im also jewish. no i dont kn the child but i do know its not right to take any ones life . i would just like to say im very sorry for your loss ..from one mother to a mother.