On a summer evening in Syracuse, 15-year-old Nykim Young was fatally shot in the upper body on June 23, 2021, around 6:30 p.m. The shooting occurred near Lower Onondaga Park at the intersection of Rich Street and Marginal Street. Nykim was a freshman at the Institute of Technology in Syracuse and was pronounced dead after efforts to save him. His death was recorded as the city’s 12th homicide of the year.

Investigators arrested 18-year-old Demetry Spears after evidence including video footage was recovered. Spears was charged with second-degree murder and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon; he later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 25 years to life. Anyone who knew Nykim or has information about that evening is asked to come forward.