By Phil Corso
QUEENSBRIDGE – A 23-year-old Manhattan man was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in the murder of high school basketball standout Tayshana “Chicken” Murphy, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said.
Tyshawn Brockington was found guilty in state Supreme Court of murder, burglary and criminal possession of a weapon earlier this month, the DA said.
“Two lives have been effectively lost to gun violence: an 18-year-old girl who died far too young, and a 23-year-old man, who could spend the rest of his life in prison for her murder,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance. “It is not enough to make sure that justice is served – crime prevention is equally important. My Office will continue to work with communities across Manhattan to put an end to the gang and gun violence that was one of the contributing factors in Ms. Murphy’s untimely death.”
The district attorney said the defendant and another man – both residents of the Manhattanville Houses – were involved in a fight with rivals from the Grant Houses in West Harlem. Both Brockington and his partner allegedly approached Grant Houses around 4 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2011 where a group, including Murphy, were lingering outside, before she was shot three times while fleeing into the building, Vance said.
Brockington fled to South Carolina, where he was arrested 10 days later, the DA said. The case against Robert Cartagena is pending, the district attorney said.
