MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Roosevelt man was convicted today of three counts of attempted murder and related charges for a shooting outside a house party in Uniondale in July 2017.
Ahkhazyah Wright, 19, was convicted by a jury of:
- Three counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony)
- Two Counts of Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C felony)
The trial, before Judge Robert McDonald, lasted two weeks and the jury deliberated for approximately two days. The defendant is due back for sentencing on August 14 and faces up to 25 years in prison for each attempted murder charge, and up to 15 years in prison on the weapon charge.
“Three young men heroically intervened when they heard a woman in distress at a house party and forced the defendant out of the house,” DA Singas said. “Moments later, the defendant brandished a weapon, shot multiple times at multiple groups of people and left two young men with permanent injuries.”
DA Singas said that on July 23, 2017, at approximately 2:40 am at a party at 187 Maple Avenue in Uniondale, an 18-year-old woman entered the bathroom when the defendant also entered. The woman then called for help.
Three young men inside the house, including close friends then 20-year old Kyle Richard, 19-year-old Sulaiman Ania, and 19-year-old Jewell Stewart heard the woman’s cries for help, opened the bathroom door, and forced the defendant from the house.
A few minutes later the defendant was observed on the front porch of the house. He was confronted and fired a handgun multiple times hitting Kyle Richard, who was struck in both legs.
Approximately one minute later a car returned to the house, unaware of the shooting that just occurred when Wright opened fire again multiple times. A bullet struck Michael Abiola in the back and lodged in his arm.
The defendant then fled the scene and 911 was called.
Following an investigation, the defendant was arrested the next day by Nassau County Police Department Detectives who found him at his father’s home in Roosevelt, hiding in a closet under a pile of clothing.
Abiola and Richard still suffer from their injuries to this day. Richard was later honored by former Vice President Joe Biden with the Biden Courage Award for his part in stopping the assault.
The defendant was acquitted of one count of Attempted Murder and one count of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.
Assistant District Attorney Emma Slane of DA Singas’ Special Victims Bureau and Deputy Bureau Chief Jared Rosenblatt of the Major Offense Bureau are prosecuting this case. Robert Schalk, Esq. represents the defendant.
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