A stepfather is facing serious charges after allegedly giving his stepson a gun and instructing him to use it in a deadly shooting that resulted in the tragic death of an innocent teenager in Westchester County. Phillip Ferrill, 48, is accused of providing a handgun to his stepson Tyrese Coghill, 22, who then used it to shoot Zyaire Fernandez while targeting another individual in Mount Vernon last year.
According to reports from Iohud.com, Assistant District Attorney Adrian Murphy stated in Westchester County Court that Zyaire Fernandez would still be alive if it weren’t for Ferrill providing the gun to Coghill. Coghill has already pleaded guilty to a murder charge and is now cooperating with authorities against Ferrill, who is now facing his own murder charge.
The incident unfolded last year in March when Coghill was assisting Ferrill in moving to an apartment in Yonkers. Three teenagers, including Fernandez and Ferrill’s nephew, reportedly confronted Coghill on the street with a knife and a gun. Ferrill then arrived on the scene and engaged in a heated argument with his nephew, whom he had accused of stealing from him in the past.
Following the altercation, Ferrill allegedly retrieved a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from a lockbox in his apartment, gave it to Coghill, and instructed him to take action against his nephew. However, during the confrontation, it was Fernandez who was tragically shot instead of the intended target.
Authorities claim that the gun used in the shooting was later found in the oven of Ferrill’s apartment. Video evidence is expected to show Ferrill retrieving the weapon from the apartment of his stepson’s girlfriend. Ferrill is now facing charges of second-degree murder, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence.
The case highlights the devastating consequences of illegal firearm possession and the dangerous influence of individuals who provide weapons for violent acts. The tragic loss of Zyaire Fernandez serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible gun ownership and the severe repercussions of using firearms in criminal activities.
