NEW ROCHELLE, NY (August 21, 2022) — Four men, including one from New Rochelle, have been indicted for Murder and additional charges in the fatal June 9 shooting of an LA-based rapper who was in town for a performance as he left the Amazing Pharmacy at 595 East Tremont Avenue near Arthur Avenue in the Crotona section of the Bronx. Police are still searching for the fifth suspect.
Why it matters: One of the four men was arrested at his dorm room on Main Street in downtown New Rochelle.
Avanti Frowner: A 27-year-old native of Chicago who rapped under the stage name Moneygang Vontae. He died of multiple gunshot wounds on June 9, 2022. He left behind a 6-year-old son.
The incident was captured on CCTV video inside and obtained by the New York Post.
WARNING: the video depicts graphic violence and a depraved indifference to human life
Chilling video shows moment drill rapper is gunned down in NYC pharmacy
Go deeper:
River Jones, 18, of 380 Main Street (Gaddy Hall) in New Rochelle, NY is charged with two counts of Murder – 2nd; Manslaughter – 1st; four counts of Robbery – 1st; two counts of Robbery – 2nd; Gang Assault – 1st; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon; two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property – 5th.
Jones was arrested by NYPD officers from the Bronx warrant squad on June 22, 2022, at about 5:15 p.m. at his dorm room at Gaddy Hall on the Monroe College campus. He was remanded to the New York City Department of Corrections and taken into custody by the New York City Department of Corrections on June 23, 2022. Jones was indicted by a Bronx Grand Jury on July 29, 2022. He was arraigned on August 9, 2022, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas He is currently housed at the Robert N. Davoren Center which houses – in separate quarters – adolescent male detainees (ages 16-18) and adult male detainees in modular dormitories, sprung structures and cells. The facility is located at 11-11 Hazen Street in East Elmhurst, NY (Queens).
Jones was remanded without bail and is due back in Bronx County Criminal Court on October 26, 2022.
Isiah Garrett, 24, of 1721 Grand Avenue, Bronx, NY is charged with Murder – 1st; two counts of Murder – 2nd; Manslaughter – 1st; four counts of Robbery – 1st; two counts of Robbery – 2nd; Gang Assault – 1st; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon; two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property – 5th.
Garrett, identified as the shooter by the Bronx, DA, was arrested by NYPD officers on June 29, 2022, at about 1:00 p.m. He was remanded to the New York City Department of Corrections and taken into custody by the New York City Department of Corrections on June 29, 2022. Garrett was indicted by a Bronx Grand Jury on July 29, 2022. Garrett was arraigned on August 9, 2022, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He is currently housed at the George R. Vierno Center, an 850-bed facility for detainees, located at 09-09 Hazen Street in East Elmhurst, NY (Queens).
Garrett was remanded without bail and is due back in Bronx County Criminal Court on October 26, 2022.
Allan Algarin, 23, of 2865 University Avenue, Bronx, NY is charged with two counts of Murder – 2nd; Manslaughter – 1st; four counts of Robbery – 1st; two counts of Robbery – 2nd; Gang Assault – 1st; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon; two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property – 5th.
Algarin was arrested with White in McDuffie County in northeastern Georgia, on firearm possession charges. The NYPD’s Bronx Warrants Violent Felony Squad traveled to Georgia to transport Algarin and White back to the Bronx on July 6, 2022. Algarin was remanded to the New York City Department of Corrections and taken into custody by the New York City Department of Corrections on July 7, 2022. Algarin was indicted by a Bronx Grand Jury on July 29, 2022. He was arraigned on August 2, 2022, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He is currently housed at the Vernon C. Bain Center, a five-story jail barge built in New Orleans to DOC specifications, the facility houses medium to maximum security inmates in 16 dormitories and 100 cells. The facility is located at 1 Halleck Street in the Bronx, NY.
Algarin was remanded without bail and is due back in Bronx County Criminal Court on October 26, 2022.
Nayshon White, 25, of 2235 Bathgate Avenue, Bronx, NY is charged with two counts of Murder – 2nd; Manslaughter – 1st; four counts of Robbery – 1st; two counts of Robbery – 2nd; Gang Assault – 1st; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon; two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property – 5th.
White was arrested with Algarin in McDuffie County in northeastern Georgia, on firearm possession charges. The NYPD’s Bronx Warrants Violent Felony Squad traveled to Georgia to transport White and Algarin back to the Bronx on July 6, 2022. White was remanded to the New York City Department of Corrections and taken into custody by the New York City Department of Corrections on July 7, 2022. White was indicted by a Bronx Grand Jury on July 29, 2022. White was arraigned on August 3, 2022, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He is currently housed at the Vernon C. Bain Center, a five-story jail barge built in New Orleans to DOC specifications, the facility houses medium to maximum security inmates in 16 dormitories and 100 cells. The facility is located at 1 Halleck Street in the Bronx, NY.
White was remanded without bail and is on for a conference in Bronx County Criminal Court on September 14, 2022.
Bronx DA Account of Incident:
On June 9, 2022, at approximately 1:40 p.m. outside the Amazing Pharmacy at 595 East Tremont Avenue in the Crotona section of the Bronx, the defendants, excluding Jones, and a fifth man not yet apprehended allegedly approached Avanti Frowner, 27, who was a Los Angeles-based drill rapper, along with his friend outside of the pharmacy where Frowner had just purchased eye drops, and allegedly robbed the two of jewelry and cell phones. Frowner was beaten to the ground as all four defendants allegedly tried to rob him of his watch and money.
During the robbery, Frowner was allegedly forced into the pharmacy at gunpoint and shot multiple times in the torso allegedly by Isiah Garrett. The attack was captured on surveillance video.
Frowner was transported to Saint Barnabas hospital and died.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tony Castro, Homicide Counsel, under the supervision of Christine Scaccia, Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and under the overall supervision of James Brennan, Deputy Chief of the Trial Division, and Theresa Gottlieb, Chief of the Trial Division.
What they are saying:
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark: “The defendants allegedly attacked two men, robbing them of money, their phones, and jewelry. One of the men, Avanti Frowner, “Moneygang Vontae,” was in New York to perform, and needed medication at a pharmacy. He was shot and killed in this senseless crime.”
Avanti Frowner’s Father, Roger Frowner: “They don’t need to be on the streets no more – ever! If they kill somebody in broad daylight, inside of a store, they are treacherous. They made a mistake. They did the dumbest thing they could ever do in life. And I hope God will make them pay for it all. My son is gone. He’s in another state, and I can’t do nothing. So you know, a big-ass hole is in my heart. He was a good son, he did what he was supposed to do. Then he went out on his journey. All I wanna say is I’ll be glad when this is all over, because the memory will always be there. You know I want justice for my son. I’m just hurt right now.”
Avanti Frowner’s Brother, Roger Frowner, Jr.:“It feels pretty good (that an arrest was made) but I know that more has to be done. I just hope that they are definitely taken off the streets sooner than later. It’s only a matter of time before they are all taken off the streets, but it feels OK that one is off the streets.I’ll feel a lot better once they are all in custody and their fate is decided.”
Monroe College Vice President, Public Affairs Jacqueline M. Ruegger: “River Jones enrolled last fall but is no longer a student at the College. Privacy laws preclude us from providing any additional comment”.