Brooklyn Man Hit with Manslaughter Charges for Deadly Punch That Put Man in Fatal Coma
Man Arrested Seven Years After Fatal Assault
Gary Anderson, 34, of Brooklyn faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges for a June 2017 assault that led to the death of Domingo Tapia.
Tapia’s Fatal Coma
A Brooklyn man faced justice Wednesday more than seven years after allegedly delivering a punch to a bicyclist that put the victim in a fatal coma.
Charges Filed
Gary Anderson, 34, of Franklin Avenue was booked on Feb. 5 on first- and second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for the death of Domingo Tapia, 44, of Ralph Avenue.
Background of the Incident
Tapia died in March 2024 after being in a coma for nearly six years following the attack that occurred early on the morning of June 8, 2017, near 1560 Fulton St., off Albany Avenue, in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Police Investigation
Law enforcement sources said Tapia, then 38, was riding his bicycle along Fulton Street when the suspect, later identified as Johnson, punched him in the face. Tapia subsequently fell to the ground and struck his head, the blow leading to severe trauma and a fractured skull, according to NBC New York.
Gary Anderson, 34, of Brooklyn faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges for a June 2017 assault that led to the death of Domingo Tapia.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Fatal Consequences
The suspect fled the scene by the time officers from the 81st Precinct and paramedics arrived. EMS rushed the victim to Kings County Hospital in critical condition; he was placed in a medically-induced coma, but never regained consciousness.
Arrest and Charges
Anderson, meanwhile, was arrested two weeks after the attack, on June 22, 2017, and booked on two counts of second-degree assault. The elevated manslaughter charges came on Feb. 5, 2025, after the Medical Examiner’s office declared Tapia’s death as a homicide, police sources said.
Arraignment
Detectives led Anderson out of the 81st Precinct stationhouse in handcuffs on Wednesday afternoon en route to arraignment on the manslaughter charges. He kept silent and turned away from the cameras of waiting journalists as he was loaded into a waiting police vehicle bound for Kings County Criminal Court.
Conclusion
The case highlights the devastating consequences of a single punch and the importance of justice being served even years after the fact.
FAQs
Q: What were the charges against Gary Anderson?
A: Gary Anderson was charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
Q: When did the incident occur?
A: The incident occurred on June 8, 2017.
Q: When did Tapia die?
A: Tapia died in March 2024.
Q: How long was Anderson in custody before being charged with manslaughter?
A: Anderson was arrested on June 22, 2017, and booked on two counts of second-degree assault. He was charged with manslaughter on Feb. 5, 2025.
