16-year-old charged with murder in Central Park shooting
Posted: Jan 8, 2021 10:33 AM EST
Charges filed in fatal shooting at Central Park in Mishawaka
Two people hospitalized in shooting at Central Park in Mishawaka
A second teen has been formally charged in the murder of Vincenzo Trozzy at Central Park on December 15, according to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office.
Tayshawn Malczynski, 16, has been charged with murder, attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and attempted murder. A felony firearm sentencing enhancement was also filed.
Malczynski was arrested on January 6 and charges were filed the following day.
On December 15, Mishawaka Police responded to shots fired at Central Park on Mishawaka Avenue.
First responders located a gray Jeep with one gunshot victim near the passenger front door and one gunshot victim inside the vehicle, reports said.
Police located evidence at the scene that indicated two guns had been fired outside the vehicle, reports said.
The man in the front seat of the Jeep, Trozzy, had been shot in the head and was in grave condition. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The victim who survived told police the shooting happened during a marijuana sale that had been set up via social media, reports said.
While at the park, the victim said a white Impala arrived and a young man approached the driver's side of the Jeep to discuss the sale. Another young man got out of the Impala with a rifle, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The victim reached for his gun when the man with the rifle and another man in the Impala fired shots at he and Trozzy, reports said.
During the investigation, police identified the two men in the Impala by reviewing social media, reports said.
Malczynski allegedly admitted he was involved in a robbery attempt which sparked the shooting. He identified the driver of the Impala who wielded the rifle as Allen, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Malczynski denied firing any shots, and identified two of the other subjects in the vehicle, reports said.
When confronted with evidence, Malczynski admitted he shot the handgun and was the second shooter from the Impala, according to the probable cause affidavit.
A witness told police Malczynski later bragged about how many times he shot and that his handgun nearly ran out of ammunition, reports said.
Malczynski also allegedly said he thought he shot the guy in the head, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Police spoke with Allen who confirmed he and four other people went in his Impala to a robbery disguised as a marijuana sale, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Allen said he had the rifle and fired it at the Jeep passenger when he saw that man reaching for a gun, reports said. Allen said he fired first, then the other shooter from the Impala and the jeep passenger fired multiple times, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Both Allen and Malczynski have been taken into custody.
Allen is scheduled for his first court appearance on Thursday afternoon.