One of the nation’s top girls high school basketball prospects was gunned down inside her apartment building in what her friends and family say was a case of mistaken identity.
According to published reports, 18-year-old Tayshana Murphy, nicknamed Chicken, was shot and killed around 4:10 a.m. Sunday morning in the Grant Harlem housing projects.
According to the NY Daily News, Murphy, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, left a party at 4 a.m. with a group of friends from her housing project. She was confronted by a gunman and chased through an alley.
According to some who were at the party, Murphy was mistaken by her assailant for a boy who was wearing the same sweatshirt. She pleaded her innocence to the gunman.
Hours after Tayshana was pronounced dead, her mother Stephanie Holston spoke to the NY Daily News about her daughter’s dreams to move her out of the ghetto.
Murphy, who was rated the class of 2012′s No. 16 point guard by ESPN.com’s HoopGurlz recruiting site, was cited as one of the top girl’s basketball prospects in the city by the Daily News. She had drawn interest from several colleges, her family said.
Tayshana’s killer is still at large.

This is a damn shame!
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I wish I knew the bastard who shot er., I’d FUCK HIM UP!!!!!!!!!
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SO SAD…. 😦 SHE HAD SUCH A PROMISING FUTURE. DAMN!!!!
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The devil comes, to steal, kill and destroy. May God comfort her mother and her friends thru this. 😦
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JESUS!
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I can feel the pain in that picture. This is terrible.
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May the Father embrace this child’s family and friends. Senseless crime, that punk needs to be captured.
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she looks like Hoopz.
*PRAYING* For all affected
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I *pray* for this girls spirit and her family and I *pray* they find her killer and severe justice is brought to him- Honestly how do you still shoot if she is begging for her life and telling you she ain’t who you lookin for.
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Honestly how do you still shoot if she is begging for her life and telling you she ain’t who you lookin for.
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@Coco, cause the shooter was a cowardly bastard.
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Coco,
Some people just don’t care which is so sad.
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So sad 😦
@Coco I was thinking the same thing. If she was pleading wouldn’t the shooter know that it wasn’t the right person? Sounds fishy…
This is why I’m glad my parents kept a close watch on me and would have never let me stay out that late. You just never know what can happen during those hrs. The freaks come out at night!
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RIGHT @Coco!
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This is why I’m glad my parents kept a close watch on me and would have never let me stay out that late. You just never know what can happen during those hrs. The freaks come out at night!
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:co-sign:
My mom wouldnt dare let me be out past 12, especially somewhere in the hood!
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Well she might had been out late because it was in her projects. I think she was really close to home.
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I *pray* for this girls spirit and her family and I *pray* they find her killer and severe justice is brought to him- Honestly how do you still shoot if she is begging for her life and telling you she ain’t who you lookin for.
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Just flat out heartless!
Even if they thought she was a boy they knew she was girl when she spoke and pleaded for her life. It sounds like a gang initiation instead of mistaken identity. Some gangs require that you shoot, kill, or rape a random person to get initiated. We really need to get it together!! Praying for her family!! This is really sad.
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@coco, my parents used to have a FIT when I would come in the house after a certain hr, even when I was in college! I thank God for them everyday. They see what we’re too young and naive to see.
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I never had a curfew. I was allowed to stay out late…then again I was never a child so…
I do think we can equip our kids with tools for survival. Problem is, everybody aint “equipping” their kids.
The shooter is somebody’s child as well, ya feel me.
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@Olivijah, I never had a curfew either
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I didn’t have a curfew because my mom always thought that I was spending the night over my girl’s house. Hmmmp.
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I wish I woulda brought my azz in after midnight on the weekends! My mama woulda broke her foot off in my azz so while my mother trusted me she made it known that she wasn’t there to be my friend and I did was she said so there was no room for negotiating
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@Olivijah, I never had a curfew either
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Maybe because we were cut from a different cloth. I didn’t have a curfew either but my mom let it be known that the deadbolt locks at 1AM (when I turned 18) and it was up to me to decide which side of the door I was on. I never even thought about coming in after that time frame. In fact I was always early..she didn’t play that shyt
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horrible, thats y i stopped going to house parties in the hood and my butt be home before 12am!!!
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horrible, thats y i stopped going to house parties in the hood and my butt be home before 12am!!!
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my daddy always said, “ain’t nothing good in the streets once the sun go down”
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Cosign…..Nothing good happens at 4 a.m.
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I hope that “No Snitching” contract done expired! How could they not tell it was a female when she was pleading for her life and STILL shot her? What is wrong with ppl?
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Someone knows EXACTLY who did it and while I realize “snitching” is frowned upon I truly belive this is one of the cases where somebody needs to step up and tell it……
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I cant with this post, this Fuckery makes me sick to my damn stomach, momma why was she out at 4 am in the damn morning, you need your ass whooped, I’m freaking pissed Cause i have a daughter, “grown”, and i still check her ass she is in by 12-1, and real talk she better not be at no dam club either, which is why she hates me, anyway.
I just cant take it. this is so sad, and her mom, man, people keep ya damn children at home, this world aint like it use to be, you cant do the stuff we did in the early 80′s and 90′s, this is so messed up, let her get mad cause she cant go, if you feel that bad, take you behind with her and stand outside, i did that at my daughter’s HS dance, I was in the car waiting til they finished at 10:00 pm. and with her PROM i rented her a limo, but had my friend to drive them everywhere, say i am to over-protected, well yes, but she is 22 now and doing quite well, but i stayed on her ass., yes I do.
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My heart goes out to the family.
😦
Crystal, you need to check yourself, she just lost her daughter, you shouldn’t be telling her that she needs her azz whooped IMO that’s just not nice.
No parent wants to bury their child. So sad….
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Crystal, you need to check yourself, she just lost her daughter, you shouldn’t be telling her that she needs her azz whooped IMO that’s just not nice.
No parent wants to bury their child. So sad….
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yes it is sad but its no excuse for this, that is a child, and yes i can feel the pain and mourn the lost, we as parents have to take responsibility for our kids, if i lose my child it won’t be because I let her do what she wanted, i’m the old fashion type momma, I’m gonna do my job, no matter how people see fit, it may seem a lil harsh in what i said, but somebody reading this gonna double check their children for now on, it may not be for you, but another parent gonna get this message, still love ya babygirl.
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I agree and cosign with Crystal, it’s the parents job to protect their child and know what’s best for them. and hangin out till 4 in the morning contributed to this girl being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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Hey BQ: i would agree w/ crystal too except these kids are getting killed all hours of the day and night now. the black on black crime just makes me shake my damn head. we are our own worst enemy.
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i would agree w/ crystal too except these kids are getting killed all hours of the day and night now. the black on black crime just makes me shake my damn head. we are our own worst enemy.
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that’s true Danny, but as long as you do your part in your child’s life, I dont won’t to have to bury my child cause i was trying to be a friend, not saying this is what she was doing, but if my child lose her life it’s not gonna be because mommy was slipping, hell I use to be with my daughter, every morning at the bus stop, hell and she was 16 yrs old, but i didnt care what nobody said about me, that is mine, and i was responsible for her, she did things, but i kept a close grip on her. but out at all we hours in the morning, no ma’ me not mine. I am really sad at this story, cause i hear it so much, and it’s not always the parents fault some of these teenagers are out of control,
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that’s true Danny but as long as you do your part in your child’s life, I dont won’t to have to bury my child cause i was trying to be a friend, not saying this is what she was doing, but if my child lose her life it’s not gonna be because mommy was slipping
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yeah, i see what you’re saying. also she was actually shot inside the building, where it’s presumably light and where she lived. there probably is more to this story. it seems like the shooter wanted her.
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@Crystal
I TOTALLY AGREE !!! Responsible PARENTS Do THEIR Part and Others MAKE EXCUSES (Real) I HAD Relatives tell me I was Too Strict on My Daughter and I Told them TO Mind Your OWN F-U-C-K-I-N-G Business
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But what I do believe is this young woman who lost her life will still get her mother out of the projects even in the after life – it’s sooo sad and I’m angry but I will give this to my Lord and asked that swift justice is brought down on this cowardly killer!
@Crystal
I agree with you so much on how things aren’t like they used to be in the 80′s and 90′s these young children and possessed and I just wish they would get right with GOD
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So sad… 😦 I’m so sick of hearing these cowardly stories. Folks too scared to get or give an ass whooping these days
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No parent should ever have to bury their child behind some stupid shit!!!! 😦 RIP Tayshana 😦 *PRAY* for her family and friends.
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This brought tears to my eyes…wow.
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OH MY, this is just AWFUL!! Guns in the wrong hands is a deadly thing. May her family find comfort while she rests in peace. :SMH:
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There seems to be no value on anyone’s life anymore…
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There seems to be no value on anyone’s life anymore…
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The Bible says: “In last days the heart of man is gonna grow cold”
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There seems to be no value on anyone’s life anymore…
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Exactly!!! I just don’t get it. What is sooo fucked up in your life that you have to take someone else’s???? And I bet the damn shooter ain’t no older than 20 or 21. 😦 <—-SMH
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I agree and he is probably trying to be accepted by a larger group of dummies
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do they have the dealth penalty in ny?
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do they have the dealth penalty in ny?
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Only if you kill a law enforcement officer. Everything else is 2nd degree murder.
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Just sad 😦
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Damn this is just sickening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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This shiit right here was just so damn un-necessary…killing this girl for what??and it breaks my fuckin heart knowin she begged for her life. 😦
I’m fuckin outta this post people.
peace!
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Lord Have Mercy 😦 May she R.I.P.
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G*d dayum! this is sad….. 😦
Too many young men are being raised at extremes. What I mean is either they are spoiled and raised emotionally and mother takes up for him (not my baby!) so he doesn’t know how to deal with emotions/anger or take responsibility for things that happen. OR the boy is neglected emotionally (he’s a boy he don’t need me huggin on him), yelled at or verbally abused (sitcho black azz down!, Ima beat the black offa you!, you ain’t shit, stop cryin fore i buss you to the white meat) both ways of raising young black men can turn out twisted personalities who act without thought on impulse as soon as they face a conflict. These types think any affront to their “manhood” can only be settled by wiping the offender off the face of the earth. Impulsive emotional actors don’t have time to verify the identity of their intended target. they are mad and want revenge only so they can get the immediate gratification of satisfaction that they have won whatever conflict they are in.
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Dana, you brought up some good points. Verbal communication and nonverbal communication is missing in today’s upbringing
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What I mean is either they are spoiled and raised emotionally and mother takes up for him (not my baby!) so he doesn’t know how to deal with emotions/anger or take responsibility for things that happen. OR the boy is neglected emotionally (he’s a boy he don’t need me huggin on him), yelled at or verbally abused (sitcho black azz down!, Ima beat the black offa you!, you ain’t ish, stop cryin fore i buss you to the white meat) both ways of raising young black men can turn out twisted personalities who act without thought on impulse as soon as they face a conflict.
Thank you for this. I was trying to articulate this very thing to my friend (offline) and i just couldnt with her! SMH
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😦 Sad! –>>> pray for her family people!
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Why did this young lady have to die so young? 😦 Such a senseless tragedy.
The story does seem a little peculiar though. Most people can differentiate between a male and female (especially when they’re begging for their lives)–that’s why it’s hard to fathom that the shooter actually thought he was taking the life of his victim, a male.
There are probably a lot more details that have yet to be revealed.
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Ok if the shooter was looking for a boy certainly he/she should have been able to tell by her voice that she was a female and not a male.
Something tells me this is a case of jealousy not mistaken identity.
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I Cosign Random,
somebody was jealous because she had a promising future and a way out. But I hope they rot in a “live hell” as her spirit haunt they ass all the way to the grave.
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@Random
There are THINGS about this story not being reported… FACTUALLY regarding This Situation (No Fucking Doubt ABOUT IT !!!)
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ESPN should offer a Huge Reward to anyone who provides information. Times are tight, somebody will rat em out.
This young lady had a future and she’s not the only one–it’s just that she is more famous than the young people in all of our cities, but this needs to stop….
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This is too sad..but I believe ther’s more to this story.
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This is too sad..but I believe ther’s more to this story.
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I agree it seems to be more to this story, it just doesn’t make sense. this person don’t realize that her blood is now on their hands.
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if people know for a fact that the shooter was intending to kill a male (which sounds suspect), then they must know the shooter or they witnessed the murder. Either way, somebody needs to come forward to tell what they know so the young punk can pay for what he has done.
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This breaks my heart to pieces….so sad…
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So many perfect patties on this blog 😦 Regardless she didn’t deserve to die. May God comfort the family during this time… this story is 😦 and heartbreaking.
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How do you mistake a girl for a boy, even if she is dressed like a boy.. As soon as she starts crying should have been able to tell she was infact a girl.
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This doesn’t sound like mistaken identity to me. It says he ran straight up on her. We don’t all look alike to each other so the same hoody thing don’t make no sense. Furthermore, moms might want to consider getting herself out of the hood instead of waiting for her daughter’s 40k a year WNBA contract to get out.
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Furthermore, moms might want to consider getting herself out of the hood instead of waiting for her daughter’s 40k a year WNBA contract to get out.
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You sound insensitive…. really insensitive
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Al, how do you know the mother wasn’t workin tryin to get them out the ghetto?
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@Al
I think the mother was just trying to relay her daughters generous and thoughtful personality. Not that she really was waiting on her daughter to “get her out of the projects”
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You sound insensitive…. really insensitive
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That’s my opinion. I’m not a ghetto apologist. We all have our faults as parents, but there has to be a line at how neglegent you are willing to be with your kids. How many of you are from the hood? How many of you knew GREAT basketball/football players coming up in school that didn’t even graduate high school or went to college and couldn’t make it through one semester? This was a gifted young lady who from what we can see had inadequate parental supervision. I feel bad for mama. I really do, but does that mean I can’t call a spade a spade? I pray she doesn’t read the CEO’s Blog at a time like this, but if she were a friend of mine I would have said something to her about the child and tried to talk to the child myself when she started having behavioral problems.
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but if she were a friend of mine I would have said something to her about the child and tried to talk to the child myself when she started having behavioral problems.
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@Al-Scream
where’d it say the girl had behavioral problems?
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Still confused as to how she was mistaken for a dude wearing the same sweatshirt…if she was able to plead with the shooter, they couldn’t tell it was the wrong person? Was her hood still on? Might be more to this story but RIP. So sad. She would have had a bright future.
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This story is just too 😦 sad. I mean really? The coward ass punk, still shot her even though she told him, she wasn’t who he was looking for.?? Sounds like he was out for her.
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“Sounds like he was out for her.” –>That’s what I say too
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Sounds like he was out for her
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Def. sounds like it was personal. Either way this is too sad and he can’t take it back. Taking her life can’t be undone. so fucked up!
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Bastard!!!!
I hope they find em and shoot his dyck off
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what a pretty girl.
Lord have mercey 😦
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😦
May this child R.I.P.
Wow!
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😦
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I’m pissed by this….dayum!
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wow. this is so sad, unfair 😦 and senseless.
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she told the fool she wasn’t the person he was looking for, pleaded for her life and he still took it! This shit is so unreal.
My God keep her family and friends. I pray for them.
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she told the fool she wasn’t the person he was looking for, pleaded for her life and he still took it! This shit is so unreal.
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That’s what make it all the more heart breaking! 😦
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she told the fool she wasn’t the person he was looking for, pleaded for her life and he still took it! This shit is so unreal.
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“Mistaken identity, because she was wearing a hood.” Really? She pleaded for her life. Wouldn’t the killer had known by then they had the wrong person, like a girl? The point is too many guns in the street and innocent lives lost! 😦
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R.I.P. Tayshana Murphy
😦
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R.I.P. 😦 lil sistah. R.I.P.
And I just know it was her own color who killed her. black on black crime. SMDH
Un-fuckin_real!
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black on black crime
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black on black violence? Mistaken identity? This poor girl is gunned down because some asshole thought she was someone else? When I was a kid you looked someone in the eye and popped him in the nose. Cowardly piece of shit!
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black on black violence? Mistaken identity?
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she told him who she was and he still shot her. sounds intentional IMO.
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she told him who she was and he still shot her. sounds intentional IMO.
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She supposedly got shot due to her brothers beef earlier in the day. The killer knew who she was and just wanted to kill her since they couldn’t get to her brother.
May she rest in peace, these NY streets are beyond crazy..
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She supposedly got shot due to her brothers beef earlier in the day. The killer knew who she was and just wanted to kill her since they couldn’t get to her brother.
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that’s why she told [the gun-man] i have nothing to do with it. she knew what/who he was after.
smdh
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She supposedly got shot due to her brothers beef earlier in the day. The killer knew who she was and just wanted to kill her since they couldn’t get to her brother.
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Then they should know who’s ass to go get!! Now the brother will have to live with this for the rest of his life!
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I’m sure her college education woulda been paid for, then she woulda been str8 to the pro’s 😦
wow.
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so 😦 very sad
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R.I.P this is so sad 😦
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What a shame and a tragedy. She was out “partying” at 4am?
Where WAS this young woman’s mother? Her FATHER? Damn this is sad.
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This is such a tradgedy, this beautiful and talented young lady could have accomplished anything she wanted in life. Why are you people mentioning the time? What does that have to do with anything? She was not doing anything wrong. Everyone has the right to live. I hope the loosers who did this are made to pay. Unfortunately, people will most likely be afraid to talk. I hope someone has the heart to step up and help this case get solved.
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Why are you people mentioning the time?
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I’m sorry Kay, unless you have a job that involves three shifts, most normal people are home in the bed at 4 A.M…she had plenty of time to live well b4 midnight.
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Why are you people mentioning the time?
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I’m sorry Kay, unless you have a job that involves three shifts, most normal people are home in the bed at 4 A.M…she had plenty of time to live well b4 midnight.
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Unfortunately, this could have happened at any hour…but she was out a bit too late. She ran for her life. So sad 😦
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I say, put the streets of ny on lockdown till they find this low-life motherfucker!
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you can trust, they know who shot her. Things will be handled accordingly and shortly. watch!
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They have to find this guy and hang him by his nuts in the neighborhood school yard. Seriously, this guy needs to be made an example of and should be killed in front of the masses. If we start the ‘eye for an eye’ method maybe some dumb azz gang banger will think twice.
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Violence begetting violence is never the way. you will never win with the enemy by fighting with his tools.
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Bless her heart 😦 May she R.I.Paradise.
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Everyone in Grant houses should be looking for the shooter. This is no time for worrying about being labeled a rat. This girl was innocent. I can’t imagine the pain the mother is going through knowing her child begged for her life at the end. What a horror story. To the shooter, now you know you shot the wrong person, may it haunt you for the rest of your life. Who raised you anyway, an animal? Whoever your people are, I bet they are real proud. You dumb ass. smh
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sick and sad. 😦 a damn shame is what it is.
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Tayshana’s killer is still at large.
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i pray they catch his ass in less that 48 hours.
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SO SAD….. RIP
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This is so sad. My heart really goes out to her family and friends. This is why my kids stay on lock down. They think its because I dont trust them, but its because I dont trust others!
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I read in another article somewhere else that this is the 2nd or 3rd bball player to get killed….anybody else heard that?
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