Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Hempstead man pleaded guilty today to shooting and killing a Roosevelt man in broad daylight in October 2018.
Savonn Dangerfield, 27, pleaded guilty before Judge Meryl Berkowitz to Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony) and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The defendant is due back in court on May 2, 2024, and is expected to be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. The NCDA recommended a sentence of 22 years to life in prison.
“This defendant brutally gunned down an unarmed 23-year-old man out for a walk with his girlfriend because of a perceived dispute,” said DA Donnelly. “After the shooting, Savonn Dangerfield fled, trying to run as far away as possible from the murder he committed. He couldn’t outrun authorities, however, and was apprehended in Ohio and sent back to Nassau County to face judgment for his violent crimes. With today’s plea, this defendant admits to ruthlessly taking Jeffrey Lee’s life, and will be held accountable with significant prison time when he is sentenced.”
DA Donnelly said that on October 12, 2018, at approximately 12:07 p.m., the victim, 23-year-old Jeffrey Lee of Roosevelt, was walking with his girlfriend on Dartmouth Street in Hempstead when he was approached by the defendant at the intersection of Stewart Avenue and shot three times.
The victim was later transported to NYU Langone Hospital Long Island (Winthrop) where he was pronounced dead.
Multiple shell cases belonging to a 9mm semi-automatic pistol were recovered at the scene.
Following an investigation, the defendant was arrested on May 13, 2019, by police in Steubenville, Ohio, and later extradited to Nassau County.
Senior Litigation Counsel Stefanie Palma of the Homicide Bureau is prosecuting this case. Cheryl Bartow, Esq. represents the defendant.
