Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Chance Goode has been found guilty of murder in the second degree for the death of a 22-year-old Bronx man during a broad daylight shooting in Rufus King Park in Jamaica in October 2020. The murder stemmed from a marijuana deal gone wrong.

District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant, the reputed head of the Never Forget Loyalty street gang, organized the brazen attempted robbery of a marijuana dealer that turned into a cold-blooded murder in Rufus King Park. The shooting took place in a popular green space frequented by children with their families, teenagers and seniors. My office is committed to the investigation, prosecution and conviction of those that seek to unleash terror in our communities. I thank my prosecutors and the NYPD case detectives for their extraordinary work on this case.”

Goode, 22, of Dillon Street in Jamaica, was found guilty yesterday of murder in the second degree, two counts of attempted robbery in the first degree, attempted robbery in the second degree, conspiracy in the fourth degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree during a four-week jury trial. The jury deliberated for approximately one day and Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder, who presided at trial, scheduled March 3 for sentencing. At that time, Goode faces up to 40 years to life in prison.

According to the charges and trial testimony, on October 15, 2020, at approximately 4:30 p.m., 22-year-old Numani Lambert arrived at Rufus King Park with two friends after they arranged on Facebook with someone using the name “Pimmy Don” to sell two ounces of potent marijuana for cash.

One of Lambert’s friends messaged “Pimmy Don” who responded he was sending “his boys” to the park to buy the marijuana. Two men showed up to meet the group. There was a verbal dispute and when it became apparent to the victim that the purported buyers did not have the cash to give him in exchange for the marijuana, he and his friends turned to leave. At that time one of the two men pulled out a gun, demanded the marijuana and fired at Lambert.

The victim was struck in the head and died three days later in a nearby hospital.

The investigation identified “Pimmy Don” on Facebook as the defendant Goode, who is the reputed leader of a street gang. Goode arranged the meeting with the victim and ordered two of his subordinate gang members to steal the marijuana and provided them with the 9 mm handgun that was used to kill Lambert.

The illegal firearm was recovered during a court-authorized search of the defendant’s home.

Defendant Torren King, who fired the fatal shots at Lambert, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree and was sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2023. The cases against the two remaining co-defendants are pending.

Assistant District Attorneys Barry Frankenstein, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, and Charles Dunn, also with the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, prosecuted the case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Sennett, Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard Brave.