A Long Island City resident was sentenced to 17 years in prison Tuesday for fatally shooting a 29-year-old man in the courtyard of the Ravenswood Houses NYCHA complex, pictured, in Astoria nearly four years ago (Photo: Google Maps)
Feb. 15, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
A Long Island City resident was sentenced to nearly two decades in prison Tuesday for fatally shooting a 29-year-old man in the courtyard of the Ravenswood Houses NYCHA complex in Astoria nearly four years ago.
Shahid Burton, 21, was sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty in November 2018 to manslaughter. He was also sentenced to five years post-release supervision.
Burton, who is from the Queensbridge Houses on Vernon Boulevard, was 17-years-old at the time of the killing.
“The sentencing of this defendant does not make up for the senseless loss of life due to gun violence, but it is our hope that the family can find some solace in the resolution of this case and the punishment imposed by the court,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
According to the charges, Burton fired multiple shots into Jelan Moreira from behind as the victim walked through a courtyard during the early hours of Aug. 26, 2018.
Video surveillance of the killing shows Burton – and an unapprehended man – approach Moreira from behind at around 5:30 a.m. as he walked through the Ravenswood Houses complex, located on 21st Street between 35th and 36th Avenues.
Burton is then seen blasting Moreira multiple times in the torso and chest, according to the charges. Moreira, who also lived in Queensbridge Houses, died as a result of his injuries.
No motive for the attack has been given.
Burton was nabbed by police in March 2019 after he was caught by a transit cop turnstile jumping at a Jamaica subway station. The officer discovered Burton was wanted in connection with the 2018 killing.
One Comment
17 years for a premeditated murder in cold blood? How is this manslaughter?
Life is cheap.