Bronx teen busted for gunning down boy, 17, over social media spat between girlfriends

Katherine Donlevy
·2 min read

A 17-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder for allegedly gunning down a fellow Bronx teen over a social media spat between their girlfriends, police said.

Tyrell Williams was arrested at his Wakefield home around 12:15 p.m., five days after he allegedly pulled the trigger on Laquai Dash, 17, striking him three times, according to the NYPD.

Williams was also charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

Laquai Dash was gunned down a block from Legacy College High School in the Bronx. Brigitte Stelzer/copyphoto
Laquai Dash was gunned down a block from Legacy College High School in the Bronx. Brigitte Stelzer/copyphoto

The teenager is accused of firing at Dash a block from Legacy College High School, the South Bronx school Dash attended.

Disturbing video obtained by The Post shows Williams allegedly taking aim at the high school senior as he fled across Cauldwell Avenue in Melrose — before firing off three bullets, which struck Dash in the neck and back.

Dash’s family said the violence was a senseless escalation of social media beef between Williams’ and Dash’s girlfriends.

Dash was brawling with his killer after the pairs’ girlfriends got in a social media fight, the boy’s family said. Brigitte Stelzer/copyphoto
Dash was brawling with his killer after the pairs’ girlfriends got in a social media fight, the boy’s family said. Brigitte Stelzer/copyphoto

Williams’ girlfriend had shown up at the high school to fight with Dash’s gal pal, but fatefully brought Williams along as protection, Dash’s grandmother, Vivian Coward, told The Post last week.

Neither Williams nor his girlfriend attended Legacy College High School, she said.

“Laquai’s girlfriend was beating up the other little girl. That girl’s boyfriend went and put Laquai’s girlfriend in a chokehold. Laquai then put him in a chokehold to get him off his girlfriend, so he turned around and shot Laquai in the neck,” Coward, 62, said.

Tyrell Williams was arrested once before for criminal possession of a weapon, according to cops. BRIGITTE STELZER
Tyrell Williams was arrested once before for criminal possession of a weapon, according to cops. BRIGITTE STELZER

“Laquai died over nothing. It was senseless. Wholly senseless.”

Dash was taken to Lincoln Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

It marks the second arrest for Williams, who was busted in 2022 for criminal possession of a weapon, according to cops.

Laquai ran across the street to get away from the gunman, but could not escape as the shooter opened fire. Tomas E. Gaston
Laquai ran across the street to get away from the gunman, but could not escape as the shooter opened fire. Tomas E. Gaston

Dash’s grandmother described him as a “decent kid” and a “good grandson” who also enjoyed spending time with his friends — and would leave home early in the morning to wake up his pals and encourage them to go to school with him.

The teen was a fiercely loyal brother who hoped for a stable career in the hospitality industry and was looking forward to traveling to Spain at the end of March on a senior class trip.