Darnell Warren

On a warm summer evening in Brooklyn, Darnell Warren, a 36-year-old Black man, was standing in the courtyard of the public housing complex he called home. Known to some as "4 Sweets," he was a resident of the Nostrand Houses in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood. Though public records offer few details about his life, a message left on a memorial page, "I Love u sunshine," speaks to the personal loss felt by those who knew him. His life was abruptly and violently ended just steps from his own front door, adding to a year that saw hundreds of homicides across New York City.

On the night of Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at approximately 10:15 p.m., the courtyard of the Nostrand Houses at 2356 Bragg Street became a crime scene. According to later court testimony, two young men, who also lived in the complex, approached Darnell. Surveillance video captured the interaction, showing the two walking past Darnell, remaining on the other side of the courtyard for about five minutes, and then walking back to confront him. Following what police described as a heated conversation, the two individuals opened fire, shooting Darnell at point-blank range. Initial reports stated he was hit once in the back, but later court records revealed he was struck by three shots.

New York Police Department officers from the 61st Precinct responded to a 911 call reporting the shooting. They found Darnell Warren unconscious and unresponsive in front of the building. Emergency medical services rushed him to nearby Coney Island Hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead. The area was cordoned off as detectives began their investigation, canvassing for witnesses and collecting evidence from the scene.

The investigation progressed quickly, thanks in large part to the surveillance footage. An NYPD anti-crime officer assigned to the case reviewed the videos and recognized both of the individuals seen with Darnell just before the shooting. One was identified as 17-year-old Ramon Cooper. Police sources indicated that Cooper and Warren had been friends at one point, but the motive for the fatal confrontation was not made clear. The day after the shooting, on August 27, 2015, police arrested Cooper. At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in possession of a .25-caliber semi-automatic firearm.

Ramon Cooper was charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. The case moved through the Kings County court system. In October 2019, a judge ruled on pre-trial motions, allowing the case to proceed. Following a jury trial, Ramon Cooper was convicted on all counts: one count of murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

On January 30, 2020, a judge sentenced Ramon Cooper for the murder of Darnell Warren. His conviction was later affirmed by an appellate court in April 2025, ensuring the legal chapter of the case was closed. While the justice system provided a resolution, the personal void left by Darnell Warren's death remains. The case is now considered closed with the conviction and sentencing of the perpetrator.