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Shakim Allen and Dreshaun Smith on Monday were convicted of murder and other charges for shooting two brothers, killing one, during a robbery near the corner of 124th Street and Liberty Avenue in January 2017.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Monday that Shakim Allen and Dreshaun Smith were convicted of murder and other charges for shooting two brothers, killing one, during a Richmond Hill robbery in January 2017.
Allen, 29, and Smith, 29, both of Jamaica, were convicted by a jury in Queens Supreme Court of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and tampering with physical evidence. Allen was additionally convicted of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, while Smith was additionally convicted of arson in the third degree.
The defendants face possible sentences of more than 50 years to life in prison by Queens Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis on April 25.
According to the charges:
- On Jan. 2, 2017, at approximately 3:22 a.m. near the corner of 124th Street and Liberty Avenue, defendant Allen got out of a two-door Mercedes-Benz driven by defendant Smith and pointed a gun at 24-year-old Sonny Kalisaran. Kalisaran attempted to run away. The victim’s brother, 31-year-old Rocky Kalisaran of Guyana who was waiting nearby, saw the confrontation and ran to his brother’s aid. Allen then pursued both men as they fled.
- Allen caught up to the brothers and wrestled with the older victim over his gun, which discharged. The younger victim yelled for help as he used a keychain pen knife to stab and slash Allen several times in the face. At that time, defendant Smith drove up to them and got out of the car with a raised gun and fired multiple times at the two victims. He struck the younger Kalisaran brother in the arm and back as he ran and the older victim in the chest, lower torso, and leg. At some point, Allen picked up the younger victim’s cell phone and wallet from the ground, then both defendants got back into the car and drove off.
- Cell site evidence adduced at trial showed that the defendants fled the crime scene and drove to Cohen Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park. Video surveillance showed defendant Allen discarding Sonny Kalisaran’s phone and wallet in a sewer prior to entering the hospital, where Allen was treated for his stab and slash wounds.
- Later that day, at approximately 6:45 p.m., the fire department responded to a vehicle fire in a rear parking lot on 186th Street and 104th Avenue in Jamiaca. When police arrived, they identified the burnt vehicle to be a Mercedes-Benz coupe registered to Smith’s girlfriend. Video surveillance footage showed Smith purchasing gasoline and setting the car on fire shortly before it was discovered.
- After the robbery, both victims were taken to a nearby hospital. The older victim, Rocky Kalisaran, died later that day of his gunshot injuries.
“One of the victims, who was visiting from Guyana, lost his life trying to protect his younger brother. This family has experienced tremendous grief and I hope this conviction provides them a measure of closure,” Katz said. “The defendants face long sentences for their callous actions.”
