File Photo
Thomas shot Frank after a house party near 132nd Street and 109th Avenue.
By Forum Staff
A Jamaica man has been convicted of shooting and killing a 20-year-old man outside a South Richmond Hill house party in December 2011, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
Troy Thomas, 36, was found guilty Monday of murder in the second degree. Sentencing has been set for June 17. At that time, Thomas faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
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Thomas fled to Guyana shortly after the murder.
According to trial testimony, the defendant became involved in a petty dispute with Keith Frank at a house party in South Richmond Hill. The victim was just blocks from his home when Thomas shot him in the chest. The young man, who’d just become a father eight months prior to the incident, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died from the single gunshot wound. Thomas immediately fled the five boroughs, but eventually was found living in Guyana, where he fought extradition. But after eight years he was returned to Queens to face the murder charge.
“The defendant was on the run for approximately eight years before being brought back to Queens to face justice. Yesterday, following 2 1⁄2 hours of deliberations a jury found the defendant guilty of committing this senseless slaying,” District Attorney Katz said. “The family of the victim was denied justice for more than a decade. Today, they can put this sad chapter behind them knowing the defendant will be punished for taking the life of their loved one.”
