Screenshot courtesy of YouTube
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Wednesday, Aug. 10, that four men were indicted for murder and additional charges in the fatal shooting of Avanti Frowner, aka, “MoneyGangVontae,” an LA-based Drill rapper, as he left a pharmacy with a friend in the Crotona section of The Bronx in June. The rapper was in New York City for a show at the time of the shooting.
Announcing the charges, Clark said, “The defendants allegedly attacked two men, robbing them of money, their phones, and jewelry. One of the men, Avanti Frowner, “MoneygangVontae,” was in New York to perform, and needed medication at a pharmacy. He was shot and killed in this senseless crime.”
The district attorney said that defendant, Isiah Garrett, 24, of 1721 Grand Avenue in Morris Heights, was charged with first-degree murder. In addition, Garrett and defendants, Allan Algarin, 23, of 2865 University Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, Nayshon White, 25, of 2235 Bathgate Avenue in Belmont, and River Jones, 18, of 380 Main Street in New Rochelle, were charged with two counts of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, four counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery, first-degree gang assault, two-counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
According to the investigation, on June 9, at approximately 1:40 p.m. outside the Amazing Pharmacy at 595 East Tremont Avenue in Crotona, the defendants, excluding Jones and a fifth man not yet apprehended, allegedly approached Frowner, 27, outside of the pharmacy where Frowner had just purchased eye drops along with a friend.
The group allegedly robbed the two of jewelry and cell phones, and Frowner was beaten to the ground as all four defendants allegedly tried to rob him of his watch and money.
During the incident, the rapper was allegedly forced inside the pharmacy at gunpoint and was shot multiple times in the torso allegedly by Garrett. The attack was captured on surveillance video. The “On Sight” rapper was transported to St. Barnabas hospital and died.
MoneyGangVontae – “On Sight” (Official Music Video – WSHH Heatseekers) Video courtesy of YouTube
Prosecutors said Jones was arrested in Westchester County, Garrett, Algarin, and White fled to Georgia and were apprehended together, while police are still searching for the fifth suspect.
Clark said Garrett and Jones were arraigned on Aug. 9, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. She said the other defendants had been arraigned previously. According to the district attorney, all four defendants were remanded in custody and are due back in court on Oct. 26.
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.
Clark thanked Detective Miguel Alvarez of the 48th Precinct Squad and Detective Patrick Sullivan of the Bronx homicide task force for their work on the investigation.
Though east-coast, west-coast rivalries are long known to have existed in the rap scene, it is unclear if Frowner had been targeted ahead of time in advance of his visit to the pharmacy. Drill rap is a sub genre of rap music, and has emerged in the last 10 years. It addresses gang and street life and often glorifies misogyny and violence. Comedian, Trevor Noah, provides an overview of the origins of the genre in the attached YouTube video.
In February, Mayor Eric Adams said he met with a group of Drill rappers and later explained to the media how the meeting went. “They said, ‘We heard you were going to ban Drill rapping,’ and I did not say that,” said Adams. “No, I was very clear on what I stated and they came in with a lot of energy. You know, here’s the 62-year-old guy that don’t understand young people and you want to destroy…. and I let them talk. Then I told them what I said, that violent people who are using Drill rapping to post who they killed, and then antagonize the people who they are going to kill is what the problem is.”
The mayor added, “And they heard me, and we’re going to be rolling out something in the next few days to deal with this issue. It was a great conversation. I was happy to have them there.”
Comedian Trevor Noah, explains the rise in Drill rap, and why NYC Mayor Eric Adams is trying to ban it? Video courtesy of YouTube
On May 22, Adams spoke on the topic of Drill rap once again in the context of a series of mass shootings around the country, saying, “You should look at some of these Drill rap videos. It is unbelievable how social media is being used to indoctrinate hate in our children, and because we don’t see it, we think that this is not happening. We’re not letting bad people in our homes, but bad people are coming in our homes through our cell phones, through our computers, and through the iPads.”
On July 29, the NY Post reported that the mayor’s son, Jordan Coleman, who works for Jay Z’s roc nation, weighed in on an apparent proposed ban of Drill rap, reportedly saying it’s not possible to ban a genre of music.
Meanwhile, Complex Music reports that rappers have begun adding disclaimers to their songs, telling fans (and cops) that their lyrics aren’t real.
Rappers are adding disclaimers to their songs, telling fans (and cops) that their lyrics aren’t real.
Here’s why ⬇️https://t.co/0NkfdZ2k54
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) August 11, 2022
Meanwhile, in the music video for “On Sight,” Frowner alludes to having previously lost his little brother.
A person charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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