Man Sentenced To 23 Years To Life For Fatal Shooting in East Flatbush Bodega

FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — A Flatbush man was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a man eight times in broad daylight at an East Flatbush bodega, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office announced last week. Herman Lancaster, 31, was convicted on one count of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Lancaster shot and killed Kerwin Craigwell, 42, at about 2:40 p.m. Jan. 27, 2015, Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.

The two men got in an argument at Adrian Deli & Grocery at 2073 Nostrand Ave., when Lancaster started to shoot inside the store.

Craigwell, who was unarmed, was struck on the sidewalk after slipping on the snow, Gonzalez said. Lancaster shot him eight times.

“This defendant fired off a barrage of bullets in broad daylight and only by sheer luck no one else was injured on that busy street," Gonzalez said. "He has now been held accountable for senselessly taking a man’s life.”

Lancaster was arrested minutes after the incident during a canvass of the area and identified by an eyewitness, according to Gonzalez.

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