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Thomas shot Frank after a house party near 132nd Street and 109th Avenue.
By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Saturday that Troy Thomas has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison following a jury trial conviction for the December 2011 shooting death of a 20-year-old man in South Richmond Hill.
Thomas shot the victim at a house party after the two started arguing, prosecutors said.
File Photo
“Despite being on the run for eight years, the defendant has now been held to account for committing this senseless murder,” DA Katz said.
“Despite being on the run for eight years, the defendant has now been held to account for committing this senseless murder. The family and loved ones of the victim, who had just become a father at the time of his death, were denied justice for more than a decade,” Katz said. “Today, I hope they can finally put this sad chapter to rest knowing that the defendant will spend a lengthy term in prison for his criminal actions.”
Thomas, 37, of Jamaica, was convicted in May after trial of murder in the second degree before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky. On Friday, Yavinsky sentenced the defendant to a term of 25 years to life in prison.
According to trial testimony, both the defendant and the victim, Keith Frank, 20, attended a house party in South Richmond Hill and became involved in a petty dispute. As a result of the dispute, the defendant fired a weapon striking Mr. Frank once in the chest. The victim, who had just become a father prior to the shooting, was rushed to a local Queens hospital where he died from his injuries. The defendant immediately fled New York City, but was found living in Guyana, where he fought extradition but was eventually returned to Queens to face the murder charge.
