FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 20 Years to Life in Prison for
Fatal Ambush Shooting of Innocent College Student
Defendant Shot Victim from Behind, Continued to Fire After Victim Collapsed
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the 2017 shooting death of an innocent 27-year-old man outside of the Farragut Houses in Downtown Brooklyn.
District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant has now been held accountable for the senseless and tragic murder of Melquian Anderson, who was a college student and was expecting a baby daughter – a young man in the prime of his life, who had everything to live for and who was cherished by his loved ones. I hope today’s sentencing brings them a small sense of solace.”
The District Attorney identified the defendant as Tavon Diaz, 24, of Downtown Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 20 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder on November 7, 2019 following a jury trial.
The District Attorney said that, according to trial testimony, on the evening of October 25, 2017, at approximately 8:45 p.m., outside of the Farragut Houses at 190 York Street, in Brooklyn, the defendant spotted Melquian Anderson walking up the block. The defendant then went inside of 190 York Street and returned outside with a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun.
As the victim passed the front of the building, the defendant ambushed him, shooting him from behind. After the victim fell to the ground, the defendant ran towards him and shot at him six times, hitting him four times.
The defendant was arrested the following month, on November 22, 2019, and admitted being in the vicinity. He was identified by three witnesses as someone captured on video surveillance carrying a handgun immediately prior to the shooting.
The District Attorney thanked Detective Investigators assigned to his Investigations Bureau and Supervising Paralegal Janette Ayala, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, for their assistance in this investigation and trial.
The victim was pursuing a bachelor’s degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the time of his death and was expecting a baby girl with his girlfriend.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Chow Yun Xie, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Steven Bravo, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Timothy Gough, Homicide Bureau Chief.
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