A Jamaica man last week was found guilty of murder and other charges in connection with the shooting death of a young newlywed during a robbery in March 2011, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Rohan Hankerson, 23, was convicted last Wednesday of one count of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a stolen property and eight counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property following a three-and-a-half week jury trial.
According to trial testimony, Rabia Mohammed, 23, and her husband of five months were walking in front on 204th Street just after 8:30 p.m., on Sunday, March 13, 2011, when Hankerson’s co-defendants—Ian Green, Tiyquon Hodges and Corey Brown—came up behind the couple. It is alleged that two of the suspects threw Mohammed’s husband to the ground and that one of them said to her, “Give me the bag.” Brown struggled with the woman for her purse. Rabia Mohammed screamed and Green pulled out a .9mm silver pistol and fired one shot, fatally striking her in the chest. Hankerson was the getaway driver.
In May 2013, Green, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree manslaughter, four counts of first-degree robbery (for his involvement in four other robberies that occurred between March 4, 2011 and March 17, 2011) and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Brown, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in March 2014 and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The case against Hodges, 20, Brown said, is presently awaiting trial on second-degree murder and other charges for his alleged involvement in the shooting incident.
Hankerson is set to be sentenced on May 6. He faces up to 49 years to life in prison.
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
