NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A Queens man on Wednesday pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a man in Far Rockaway last year and injuring two others.
Lawayne Smalls, 19, of Far Rockaway, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Katz said the incident began just before 2 p.m. on Sept. 8, 2020 as Smalls was standing on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, near Shore Front Parkway.
The DA noted that while standing on the corner, he got into a verbal dispute with the victim, 20-year-old Christopher Campbell, and two others.
It remains unclear what the dispute was about, but the situation quickly escalated when Smalls revealed a firearm and began firing at Campbell and the other men.
DA Katz said, several bullets – at least six – struck Campbell throughout his body.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but later died as a result of his injuries. The two others were also hit by bullets but survived, Katz said.
"The defendant in this case has now admitted to a senseless shooting that took the life of one man and injured two others. A disagreement should never lead to bloodshed, sadly easy access to illegal firearms has resulted in far too many deaths in Queens County," DA Katz said. "We must stop the gun violence and rid our communities of these deadly, illegal weapons."
Smalls will be sentenced on Dec. 3, when Justice Kenneth Holder is expected to order him be sent to prison for 23 years.
