Man Sentenced To Prison For Fatally Shooting Homeless Man: DA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - A Bay Shore man was sentenced on Thursday to 50 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a homeless man in Central Islip in connection to a drug deal gone wrong last year, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini.

Enrique Vega Jr., 48, was convicted by a jury on July 12 of second degree murder, two counts of second degree criminal possession of a weapon and third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, the DA said.

On Nov. 26, 2018, Vega shot and killed 54-year-old Michael Evans on Suffolk Avenue in Central Islip in connection with an alleged drug debt, the DA said.

Video surveillance shows that Vega fired six shots at Evans using an illegally possessed handgun, the DA said.

Evans’ body was eventually discovered by police officers and he was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

Following an investigation by Suffolk Police, Vega was arrested for the murder on Dec. 3, 2018, the DA said.

Upon his arrest, he was found in possession of 12.8 grams of crack cocaine, the DA said.

His trial began on July 9 and the jury returned a verdict of guilty on July 12.

"Vega shot the victim six times in the middle of the street, not only killing the victim but endangering the lives of several bystanders," Sini said. "He is likely going to spend the rest of his life in prison for this senseless, cold-blooded murder."

Vega was sentenced today by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei to 25 years to life in prison on the murder charge; 15 years in prison on each of the criminal possession of a weapon charges, to run concurrent to each other and consecutive to the other counts; and 10 years in prison on the charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance to run consecutive to the other counts, for a total of 50 years to life in prison, the DA said.