'Do What You Gotta Do,' Shooter's Stepdad Sentenced In Teen's Death

MOUNT VERNON, NY — An act of gun violence that left a 14-year-old in Mount Vernon dead started with a callous act at the kitchen table in Yonkers.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced on Thursday that 48-year-old Phillip Ferrell, of Yonkers, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the killing of 14-year-old Zyaire Fernandez in March of 2023.

Ferrell was sentenced Thursday morning by Westchester County Court Judge George Fufidio, Jr., who also ordered that he undergo five years of post-release supervision.

"Mr. Ferrell set off the chain of events that resulted in Zyaire Fernandez’s death. Today's sentence reflects the seriousness of his role in this tragedy," Cacace said. "My office is committed to ensuring that our children are kept safe from gun violence and that our communities remain safe places for them to live, learn, and grow."

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• 2 Now Arraigned In Connection To The Murder Of A 14-Year-Old

In November of 2024, a jury convicted Ferrell of first degree manslaughter, in addition to other charges. At trial, prosecutors showed that Ferrell gave his 9 mm pistol to his stepson, Tyrese Coghiel, and told him to "do what you gotta do." Soon after, Coghiel used the pistol to shoot and kill Fernandez.

After the killing, Ferrell retrieved the gun and hid it in his oven, next to two explosive devices and ammunition, all of which were recovered by authorities during the execution of a search warrant.

"Ever since that day, my life has not been the same," Fernandez's mother said at sentencing. "I miss my baby. He was 14 years old. He didn’t deserve what happened to him."

The trial jury also found Ferrell guilty of several related charges for which Judge Fufidio sentenced him for: two counts of second degree criminal possession (15 years imprisonment each), two counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon (three to six years imprisonment each), first degree hindering prosecution (three to six years imprisonment), and tampering with physical evidence (two to four years imprisonment). All of the sentences will run concurrently with the 25-year sentence for manslaughter.

23-year-old Coghiel pleaded guilty to second degree murder in February of last year. Because of his cooperation with Ferrell's prosecution, it is expected that he will be allowed to change his guilty plea to first degree manslaughter. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 20 before Judge Fufidio.

The investigation was conducted by the Mount Vernon Police Department's Major Case Bureau, with help from the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force and D.A. Investigator Jed Salter.

The case was prosecuted by Lana Hochheiser, Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Adrian Murphy.