Stepfather of man charged in fatal Mount Vernon shooting indicted for murder

The stepfather of a man who pleaded guilty to a fatal shooting in Mount Vernon now finds himself indicted for murder. He appeared in court on Friday, as did the victim's mother.

Phillip Ferrell, 47, was arraigned before County Court Judge George Fufidio on the new charges.

Ferrell is the stepfather of 22-year-old Tyrese Coghiel. Coghiel pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of 14-year-old Zyaire Fernandez outside Levister Towers in Mount Vernon on March 9, 2023.

"My son is gone. My life hasn't been the same," said Zyaire's mother Tara Williams. "I miss my son, my baby, my only son."

Ferrell allegedly took the gun from his stepson after the shooting and hid it in his Yonkers apartment.

Both Ferrell and Coghiel were arrested within days of the shooting.

Ferrell was charged with weapon possession, hindering the prosecution and tampering with evidence.

"I cry every day since my sons been gone, I cry. I just want justice for Zyaire, that's it," an emotional Williams told News12.

The new indictment charges Ferrell with second degree and manslaughter in addition to the earlier charges.

"He allegedly gave the gun to the alleged shooter. He gave him the gun to go shoot after little young teenagers," explained Williams.

She says shell be in court every day fighting for her son.

"I want him to get the maximum, if possible, for what he did. He took a young life, 14. My son never even got a chance to live his life," she said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 9.