Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Joseph Gilbert Stevens was sentenced today to 24 years in prison for fatally shooting 49-year-old Richard Carter outside of a funeral in April. Stevens pleaded guilty to manslaughter in July for the fatal shooting.

District Attorney Katz said: “The defendant acted without consideration or respect for an entire community when he brazenly fired a gun outside a funeral and killed Richard Carter. Joseph Gilbert Stevens shot Carter at point-blank range and, after the victim collapsed onto the street behind the hearse, the defendant stood over the victim’s body and continued to shoot him. We hope today’s sentence provides a measure of comfort to the victim’s friends and family.”

Stevens, 34, of Jamaica, pleaded guilty in July to manslaughter in the first degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant sentenced the defendant today to 24 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

DA Katz said, according to the charges, on April 10, 2026, at approximately 2:12 p.m., Stevens rode a Citi Bike to the intersection of Merrick Boulevard and Sayres Avenue in Jamaica to attend a funeral at Shekinah Youth Chapel, which is part of Greater Allen AME Cathedral. Stevens entered the service, approached the casket and then left the chapel.

Five minutes later, the defendant encountered 49-year-old Richard Carter of Valley Stream. As the victim was walking toward the chapel on Sayres Avenue, Stevens ran toward him and shot him four times. The defendant then fled.

Carter was taken to a local hospital where he died due to his gunshot injuries. Stevens was apprehended the following day.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Kanella Georgopoulos of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, Karen Ross and Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Chief Assistant District Attorney Shawn Clark.