QUEENS, NY — A pair of Far Rockaway men could spend the rest of their lives in prison after being convicted of killing 24-year-old Freeport native Jabeon Bivins, Queens prosecutors said Wednesday.
According to District Attorney Melinda Katz's office, 25-year-old Michael Williams and 30-year-old Kevin Johnson were each convicted in June of one count of second-degree murder, one count of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the killing.
Wednesday, Queens judge Mary Bejarano sentenced Johnson to 20 years to life in prison and Williams to 22 years to life in prison, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Bivins was killed on Aug. 15, 2022 at about 6:20 p.m. while standing with a few of his friends near the Redfern Houses in Far Rockaway.
Johnson and Williams arrived at the walkway and started shooting at the group, which also included another man and three young women, per prosecutors.
Video of the shooting released by police showed two men in hoodies — one red, one grey — opening fire and fleeing the scene.
According to authorities, the duo fired 21 shots at Bivins and his friends as the group ran away.
One of those shots, prosecutors said, hit Bivins in the back of the head as he was running across Redfern Avenue. He collapsed in the street and died instantly, prosecutors said.
After the shooting, prosecutors said police found 16 .40-caliber Smith & Wesson shell casings and five .45-caliber shell casings in the walkway where Johnson and Williams had stood
In a statement Wednesday, Katz said Bivins was ont of "too many" people whose lives had been lost to gun violence.
"These two men opened fire on a summer evening with no regard for anyone around them and left a young man to die in the street," Katz said. "Gun violence has stolen too many lives in our communities. We are attacking gun violence at every level. The defendants will now serve lengthy sentences in prison."
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