A Manhattan jury has convicted Joseph Morros of murder in the December 2022 shooting death of Tykeem Berry, who was killed in front of his 10-year-old daughter inside a local deli, prosecutors announced Friday. The verdict came after a 12-day trial that examined the fatal incident, which occurred at the 144 Deli-Grocery in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan on December 15, 2022.

According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the jury found Morros guilty on all charges related to the killing. Bragg described the shooting as a "vicious and callous" act of gun violence that abruptly ended Berry’s life and left his family devastated. The district attorney also noted the additional trauma inflicted on Berry’s young daughter, who witnessed the shooting.

Authorities described the sequence of events leading to the fatal shooting in detail. Berry, aged 30, had just picked up his daughter from school and was inside the deli located near the intersection of Nagle Avenue and Thayer Street when Morros was seen staring at him. A verbal altercation ensued around 4:05 p.m., according to former NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig. Surveillance video captured Morros exiting the store before returning with a firearm and shooting Berry.

Eyewitness accounts from the scene indicated that Morros demanded Berry come outside, but when he refused, a physical struggle occurred inside the store before Morros fired a single shot to Berry’s chest. Nelson Trinidad, who was selling fruit nearby at the time, recalled the confrontation and the gunfire.

Berry’s family described him as a caring father and a man trying to lead a positive life despite a troubled past. His sister, Karen Mebane, said her brother was devoted to his children, including an 8-year-old son, and was striving to be a good father and person. Berry’s father, Daryl Frazier, expressed profound grief over the loss, emphasizing the devastating impact of witnessing the murder on Berry’s young daughter.

Law enforcement officials noted that Morros had a criminal record, including 10 prior arrests and two previous incidents involving weapons possession.

The conviction marks a significant development in a case that underscored concerns about gun violence in New York City and the challenges faced by families affected by such tragedies. Sentencing for Morros is expected to take place in the coming weeks.