MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Hempstead man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for the January 1, 2014 shooting death of a man outside a Hempstead night club.
Charles Smith, 38, pleaded guilty in front of Supreme Court Justice Robert McDonald to Manslaughter in the 1st degree (a class B violent felony) on January 25.
“This cowardly defendant shot and killed 26-year-old Andre Graydon as his victim was running away, then he fled the state in a failed attempt to evade prosecution,” DA Singas said. “A petty disagreement led to this senseless loss of a young life and I am grateful to our law enforcement partners for ensuring that justice was done.”
DA Singas said on January 1, 2014, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Smith and a friend got into a physical altercation with a group of men inside the Seduccion Bar, which spilled out onto the street. The fight was the result of a dispute over women. Once the altercation was outside, Smith pulled out a .40 caliber gun and shot 11 times at the victim – 26-year old Andre Graydon – who was running away on Stowe Street. Graydon was hit once in the leg and later died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.
The defendant, who was on probation for a federal drug charge at the time of the shooting, fled to Virginia following the incident. He was apprehended by federal officials on January 30, 2014.
Assistant District Attorney Ania Pulaski of DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting the case. Smith is represented by Brian Carmody, Esq.
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