NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Queens man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the accidental shooting of a 25-year-old NYCHA worker that occurred five years ago, District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.
Jerald Bethea, 24, admitted that he caused the accidental death of Darrian Ramdial, a Navy veteran from Mount Vernon.
According to the charges, on the afternoon of April 9, 2020, Bethea was engaged in an argument with four men inside the lobby of 3-20 27th Ave. When they left the building Bethea followed, pulled out a pistol and fired nine shots at one of the men.
None of the bullets struck their intended target, and one hit Ramdial in his torso instead. Ramdial was transported to an area hospital where he died six days later, prosecutors said.
He was working at the nearby Astoria Houses at the time he was shot.
Bethea fled the scene and was apprehended in October 2020 by members of the NYPD’s Felony Warrant Squad, prosecutors said.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise is expected to sentence Bethea to 20 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision at his court date on Feb. 25.
“This defendant fired an illegal gun in broad daylight to settle a dispute and instead killed Darrian Ramdial, a hard-working, young Navy veteran who was not the intended target,” Katz said. “We cannot reverse what happened but hope this plea and the expected sentence bring a measure of solace to Mr. Ramdial’s loved ones.”