Bermudez, a 31-year-old rapper known as CoachDaGhost, received 60 years to life in prison from Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice John Hecht on 28 May 2025. The sentence was for his participation in a gangland ambush shooting in Canarsie, Brooklyn, on 13 March 2021, in which a teen was killed and another two were injured. The trial was highly publicized for Bermudez’s reputation as a rapper and the mixed reports of his sentence on social media.
The incident occurred at the corner of Farragut Road and East 82nd Street in Canarsie, where Bermudez, along with his co-defendant Naquan Pruitt, ambushed the trio of young men in an execution-style shooting. The victims were 17-year-old Bryan Sanon, who was hit with multiple shots, including to the chest, and perished at the scene.
A 19-year-old was shot in both legs, and a 20-year-old was shot in the face; both survived but sustained serious injuries. Authorities identified Bermudez as a member of the Choo gang, and the incident was linked to an ongoing rivalry with the Woo gang, fueling a cycle of violence in the community.
Following a lengthy legal process, Bermudez was convicted on May 7, 2025, of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder. His co-defendant, 30-year-old Naquan Pruitt, was convicted on May 5, 2025, and sentenced to 25 years to life.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office described the crime as a “senseless act of gang-related violence,” emphasizing the severity of the sentences as a reflection of the case’s gravity. District Attorney Eric Gonzalez stated,
“This lengthy sentence reflects our commitment to holding those responsible accountable and seeking justice for the victims and their families.”
Bermudez fled New York after the shooting and was arrested in Georgia on July 6, 2021. He was extradited to New York in December 2021 to face charges. Pruitt was apprehended in Pennsylvania on May 25, 2021, and returned to New York in June 2021. The legal proceedings spanned several years, culminating in the convictions and sentencing in May 2025.
Confusion arose after an X post from the account raphousetv2, published on May 28, 2025, claimed that Bermudez had been sentenced to 20 years to life. The post read, “NY Rapper Coach the ghost gets sentenced 20 years to life for murder charges.” Still, multiple official entities such as the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and news agencies such as NewsBreak have ascertained the sentence as 60 years to life. This indicates how common misinformation is disseminated on social media and how much more credible reports are needed in such sensational cases.
CoachDaGhost was already recognized in Brooklyn’s rap scene before his arrest. His membership in the Choo gang put him in the middle of the violent gang warfare that culminated in the 2021 shooting. The trial has also caused a debate online, with many people speculating on his guilt or possible release, their claims refuted by the official sentence.
