Brooklyn Man Indicted For 2020 Murder Of Bay Shore Man

BAY SHORE, NY — A Brooklyn man was indicted in court on Thursday, after he was accused of murdering a Bay Shore man in 2020, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced.

Basheer Vinson, 28, of Brooklyn, was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree attempted robbery, first-degree attempted assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, before Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei.

On August 2, 2020, at about 2:05 a.m., Vinson and a second individual allegedly approached Mark Birthwright, 26, as he left a house party on Patton Avenue in Wyandanch, according to an investigation.

Vinson demanded money from Birthwright, officials said. A scuffle then occurred between the two, and Vinson’s baseball cap was knocked to the ground.

He then allegedly pulled a handgun and fired a single shot, which struck Birthwright in the chest, prosecutors said.

One of Birthwright's friends ran toward Birthwright, and Vinson allegedly fired another shot, striking the friend in the torso. Vinson ran off without getting any money, prosecutors said.

Birthwright was pronounced dead at the scene, while the friend was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, officials said.

Vinson’s DNA was later recovered on the baseball cap, as well as on one of the spent shell casings recovered at the scene. He was arrested on Oct. 4, officials said.

“This defendant’s alleged attempt to rob the victim as he was leaving a party with friends ended
in a senseless tragedy,” said Tierney. “This individual will now have to face the consequences of
his actions and our office will work tirelessly to make sure we bring justice to the victim and his
loved ones.”

Vinson is being held without bail. His next court date is Nov. 22.

Patch has reached out to Vinson's attorney, John Halverson, for comment.