3 Face 27 Charges In March Street Shooting: UPDATE

Prosecutors have released more information about the indictments against three Mount Vernon men.

They say that on the night of March 13, and in the early hours of March 14, two men, Pierre Mensah and Tasjawn “Tay” White, were involved in a series of incidents including an initial robbery and subsequent attempted robbery. That sequence of events took place in the industrial and residential neighborhoods not far from the Mount Vernon West Metro North train station and resulted in the shooting and, ultimately, the death of Donovan Brown.

White’s uncle, Phillip Spearman, is also in the indictment, facing seven related charges for his involvement with the stolen proceeds from the robbery and for his efforts to deal with the handgun, prosecutors said.

Determined detective work by Mount Vernon police, with the help of video surveillance from security cameras throughout the area, allowed police and prosecutors to trace the steps taken by the men for several hours leading up to the shooting and immediately following it.

White and Mensah are in Westchester County Jail without bail, while Spearman’s bail was set at $100,000. All three are scheduled to appear in court July 10.

Mount Vernon police detectives led the investigation. Deputy District Attorney Perry Perrone, Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney Michelle Lopez of the Superior Court Trial Division are prosecuting the case.

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Three men have now been accused in the shooting of a Mount Vernon man in March. The 19-year-old who was charged in April is now joined by two others in the 27-count indictment.

Donovan Brown, 24, was shot in the face and killed outside The Modern on South Macquesten Parkway in the early morning hours of March 14. Another person was also hurt.

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced the indictment Wednesday. against Tasjawn “Tay” White, Phillip Spearman and Pierre Mensah. White and Spearman, White's uncle, were arraigned Wednesday; Mensah was arraigned Tuesday.

The charges against the three are:

Tasjawn “Tay” White, alone, is charged with Murder in the First Degree, a class A-1 violent felony.

In addition, White and co-defendant Pierre Mensah, are charged with:

• Two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, class A-2 felonies
• Four counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, class B felonies
• One count of Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony
• One count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class C felony
• Two counts of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, class C felonies
• Four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, class C felonies
• Two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, class B felonies
• Two counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, class E felonies
• One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony

Co-defendant Phillip Spearman is charged with:

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony
• Two counts of Hindering Prosecution in the Second Degree, class E felonies
• Two counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence, class E felonies
• One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony

PHOTOS/ Westchester County District Attorney's Office

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