QUEENS FATHER CONVICTED OF MURDER OF 3-YEAR-OLD SON

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Shaquan Butler was convicted of depraved indifference murder, assault and other charges for the death of his 3-year-old son in an Elmhurst shelter in November 2022 and for separate injuries inflicted on the boy’s younger brother. District Attorney Katz said: “At 3 years old, Shaquan Butler Jr. had…

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REPUTED GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO 21 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING TEEN OUTSIDE SPRINGFIELD GARDENS FAST FOOD RESTAURANT

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rayvon Phillip was sentenced to 21 years in prison for killing 18-year-old Akim Cisse in September 2024. Phillip, reputedly a BG4 gang member known as “Ray-G,” fired multiple gunshots at a vehicle with four people inside including Cisse. Phillip pleaded guilty earlier this month to manslaughter in…

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ASTORIA MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING FDNY EMS LIEUTENANT IN SEPTEMBER 2022

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Peter Zisopoulos was convicted at trial of murder in the second degree and weapon possession for the vicious knife attack that claimed the life of Lieutenant Alison Russo, a 24-year veteran of the FDNY EMS. The victim was posthumously promoted to captain. The unprovoked attack occurred just…

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CORONA MAN INDICTED FOR FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR FATAL STABBING OF BICYCLIST

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Nelson Torres was indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder in the first degree for the death of 22-year-old Anderson David Archila Martinez after the two encountered each other on a Corona sidewalk on April 14. The victim rode his bicycle near Torres and inadvertently…

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THREE CHARGED IN 2019 STABBING DEATH OF 17-YEAR-OLD IN SOUTH JAMAICA

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Tianna Benjamin, Charles Gillespie and Kyra Tyrell have been indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder, weapon possession and conspiracy in the November 2019 stabbing death of 17-year-old Talasia Cuffie. The victim attended a memorial basketball game being held in honor of Aamir Griffin, a…

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QUEENS MAN INDICTED AND IN CUSTODY FOR 2021 FATAL GUNPOINT ROBBERY IN ASTORIA

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jordan Hannah, an FDNY EMT, was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on first-degree murder and other charges for the fatal gunpoint robbery of 22-year-old Kyle Griffin in April 2021. Griffin was seated in his white Range Rover near the corner of 41st Street and 30th…

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TENANT CHARGED WITH MURDER OF BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT WHO WAS TRYING TO COLLECT UNPAID RENT

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Sandra Coto-Navarro has been charged with murder for allegedly killing her building’s superintendent, 55-year-old Jose Portillo, inside her apartment in Kew Gardens Hills. The victim reportedly entered the defendant’s apartment around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday to collect unpaid rent on behalf of the landlord. The super’s coworkers called the…

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ADVANCED DNA TESTING REVEALS IDENTITY OF VICTIM KILLED 33 YEARS AGO

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that a female homicide victim, whose identity remained unknown for more than three decades, has now been identified as Judy Rodriguez by using advanced DNA testing. Rodriguez’s unidentified body, bound at the ankles with a cord and covered with a large wooden board, was discovered on August 25, 1991,…

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QUEENS MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER, SEX ASSAULT

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Quiming Wan was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the November 2021 murder and sexual abuse of Jiaomei Zhou, a 29-year-old woman whose body he carried from his apartment before being stopped by building residents. A jury convicted the defendant following an October trial. District…

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