Bystander Killed in Easter Sunday Robbery
New York City police apprehended and charged Schward Bee, 31, in connection with the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander during an attempted robbery at a Bronx bodega on Easter Sunday.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time for Party Promoter
The victim, Stefon Barnes, a 29-year-old party promoter, was not the intended target of the robbery, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. Barnes had just arrived at the Gourmet Deli on East Tremont Avenue after hosting a nearby party when he was tragically caught in the crossfire.
Security Struggle Leads to Deadly Discharge
Authorities reported that the intended robbery target was grappling with the gunman over the weapon when the fatal shot was fired.
Repeat Offender Back in Custody
Bee faces charges of murder, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon. Police revealed he has a history of arrests in the Bronx, including a previous conviction for attempted robbery that resulted in a prison sentence until 2017. Additionally, Bee served a parole term that expired in 2020 and has a prior arrest for menacing in Mount Vernon.
Victim Remembered as Hardworking Family Man
Barnes, originally from Greenville, North Carolina, was described by his family as a dedicated young man who had held various jobs, including store clerk, truck driver, and UPS delivery driver. This senseless act of violence follows another recent loss for Barnes’ family, with the passing of his great-aunt just a week prior.
“This random, senseless violence has become the norm but it has to stop,” said Anthony Barnes, 59, the victim’s uncle, expressing the pain and frustration felt by many in the community.
