HEMPSTEAD, NY. (1010 WINS) — A 31-year-old man was convicted for the 2019 robbery and murder of a man who was sleeping in his car on Long Island, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced Friday.
Kadeem Lewis was convicted of murder and robbery and faces 25 years to life in prison. He is due back on Dec. 16 for sentencing.
At approximately 2:19 a.m., on Nov. 25, 2019, Lewis and a homeless man, 33-year-old Richard Ford were walking around Hempstead looking for a house to burglarize when they encountered 33-year-old Jose Sanchez-Velasquez sleeping in the front seat of his vehicle with the engine running and the lights on.
According to officials, Lewis approached the driver's side of the vehicle while Ford opened the front passenger-side door and took several cell phones.
Ford then removed Sanchez-Velasquez from his vehicle. The victim screamed, and Lewis fired a single gunshot into Sanchez-Velasquez's chest, authorities said.
Officers found Sanchez-Velasquez lying on the ground and transported him to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Lewis and his co-defendant then fled the scene.
Lewis dropped two of the cellphones taken from the victim in a neighboring backyard, prosecutors said.
About one month later, on Dec. 21, 2019, Lewis was involved in an incident at a residence on Alan Street in Hempstead wearing a ski mask.
During the incident, Lewis fled the scene, dropping his cellphone inside the residence. Police also discovered a ski mask and a wallet that was taken from the Alan Street home blocks away from the scene.
DNA samples taken from the ski mask and the cellphones recovered near the scene of the murder were both a match to Lewis, officials said.
Lewis was arrested on Feb. 6, 2020.
Ford was also charged with murder.
"Kadeem Lewis targeted a man asleep in his car, robbed him, and tragically ended Jose Sanchez-Velasquez's life in the process," DA Donnelly said. "No one in Nassau County should ever have to fear they'll become the victim of a violent assault simply sitting in their vehicle. I thank the jury for their service and their decision to convict this dangerous defendant."
