Editor’s note: Darian Stevenson of Syracuse.com contributed to this report.
Syracuse, NY – Two people have been arrested in the murder of 11-year-old Brexialee Torres-Ortiz, who died when she was shot while returning from a convenience store in Syracuse after buying milk for her family.
Dahviere R. Griswold, 20, of Syracuse and Rasean V. Patterson, 18, of Syracuse, were both arrested Wednesday afternoon, according to prison records.
A 16-year-old boy is also a suspect, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said at a news conference Thursday. The teenager resides in an “unsecured facility” in upstate New York and “knows we’re coming to talk to him,” he said. The boy was on leave the day of Brexialee’s murder and is from Syracuse, he said.
The teenager is “by no means unknown to us and by no means in general,” Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile said at the press conference.
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The three were identified “quickly” after Brexialee’s death, Fitzpatrick said. The car seen in the surveillance footage was stolen and quickly found as it had been dumped, Cécile said.
The three suspects are believed to have been shot out of the car, Cecile said.
Police Chief DA and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh visited Brexialee’s family on Wednesday to tell them about the arrests.
“Los tenemos,” Fitzpatrick told Brexialee’s mother. “We got them.”
Both Griswold and Patterson have been charged with second degree murder, attempted second degree murder and second degree criminal possession of a weapon. They are being held in the Justice Center prison.
Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard confirmed Thursday morning from a source that the two men had been charged in connection with Brexialee’s murder. Syracuse police announced the arrests at a 10 a.m. news conference
On January 16, Brexialee was walking along Oakwood Avenue when someone opened fire, killing her near her home. A 19-year-old man was also hit but survived.
Fitzpatrick said they had “every reason to believe” the 19-year-old was the target.
She is remembered as everyone’s cheerleader, best friend and ready to help anyone in need, her family said in their obituary. She was protective of her sisters, loved family time, cooked and laughed her heart out, they said.
Related article: Bright light shot down: Syracuse family, 11, mourns daughter who always wanted to help
Brexialee Torres-Ortiz, 11, was killed after getting a gallon of milk from the store for her family on January 16, 2023. (Family Courtesy)
Brexialee was a sixth grade student at Stem @ Blodgett Middle School where she was an honorary student and class president. Her obituary says she loved math, dancing and cuddling.
Many described her on Syracuse.com as a bright light and a ray of sunshine wherever she went. And she always liked to help out, her family said.
That’s what she was doing on Monday night.
Brexialee was learning to make homemade mac and cheese, her favorite meal, when her grandmother needed more milk. She went to the nearby convenience store, a trip the girl had taken before, but this time she was shot and killed near her home.
Call hours will be 3-6 p.m. Thursday at Tucker Missionary Baptist Church at 515 Oakwood Avenue. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church.
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Full obituary of Brexialee
Fundraising for the family
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Related Syracuse.com | Post-Standard coverage:
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Hear Brexialee in a video filmed before his death: ‘I think Syracuse is amazing’
Brexialee Torres-Ortiz remembered the church service for its kindness, ‘a smile no one can take away’
Brexialee Torres-Ortiz recalled by mother, teachers
Syracuse girl murdered on her way home was class president, honor student who loved to dance
The Syracuse school in the face of a student’s murder has sought to do more for the family. Teachers launched a fundraiser
A bullet killed another child in Syracuse, but the whole community felt the blow. “We need to do more”
Brexialee’s senseless death calls us to speak, to stand up, to push back (Guest review by H. Bernard Alex)
