NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A Queens man was sentenced to prison for fatally shooting his friend after the two argued over an unpaid debt on the day after Christmas in 2021, prosecutors announced on Friday.
Hassan Dees, 35, pleaded guilty in November to manslaughter in the first degree and was sentenced to 24 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced.
"An argument over money turned deadly when the defendant chose to settle it with a gun, taking the life of a young man," Katz said. "We will not relent in our efforts to get these illegal weapons off our streets."
A dispute over a debt turned deadly on Dec. 26, 2021, when 31-year-old Peter Johnson was fatally shot outside a home in Jamaica, Queens, according to court documents.
Prosecutors said the incident began at a deli on Hollis Avenue, where Johnson confronted Dees, an employee, over the debt. After a brief argument, Johnson told Dees they could continue the discussion at Dees' home after his shift ended.
Johnson left the deli and walked to Dees' residence, while Dees retrieved a bag from the back of the store and followed shortly after.
Minutes later, as Johnson approached Dees' door around 10:45 p.m., Dees arrived behind him and shot him twice, prosecutors said.
Dees then ran back toward the deli where he worked, prosecutors said.
The victim was found unresponsive in the Dees' driveway with gunshot wounds to the head and arm.
He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
