Nassau Man Gets Jail Time For 2014 Murder

A Hempstead man was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 years in prison for the 2014 murder of a man outside of a nightclub.

Charles Smith, 38, pleaded guilty on Jan. 25 to first-degree manslaughter for the murder of Andre Graydon outside of a Hempstead nightclub on Jan. 14, 2014.

"This cowardly defendant shot and killed 26-year-old Andre Graydon as his victim was running away, then he fled the state in a failed attempt to evade prosecution," said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. "A petty disagreement led to this senseless loss of a young life and I am grateful to our law enforcement partners for ensuring that justice was done."

On January 14, 2014, at approximately 3 a.m., Smith and a friend got into a fight with a group of men inside the Seduccion Bar, which spilled out onto the street. The fight was the result of a dispute over women. Once the altercation was outside, Smith pulled out a .40 caliber gun and shot 11 times at the victim – 26-year-old Andre Graydon – who was running away on Stowe Street. Graydon was hit once in the leg and later died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.

Smith, who was on probation for a federal drug charge at the time of the shooting, fled to Virginia following the incident. He was apprehended by federal officials on Jan. 30, 2014.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office