Gang Member Pleads Guilty In 2005 Murder Of C.W. Post Student

Jamie Rivera, a member of the Latin Kings gang, pleaded guilty today to the 2005 murder of C.W. Post student Tafare Berryman outside a bar in Island Park.

Rivera, 32, of Freeport, was arrested for the shooting in February 2017. Rivera mistakenly believed that Berryman was involved in a fight outside a bar between C.W. Post students and Latin Kings members. Berryman, from Brooklyn, was 23. Rivera is facing life in prison for the killing.

“Nearly 14 years ago, an innocent young man lost his life to senseless gang violence. Like his family, we do not forget,” said United States Attorney Richard Donoghue. “This case demonstrates our relentless pursuit of justice for the victims of gang violence and our determination to hold gang members accountable.”

On April 2, 2005, Rivera and other Latin Kings gang members were present at La Mansion bar and nightclub, located at 3942 Long Beach Road in Island Park. Also at the club were numerous C.W. Post students, including Tafare Berryman and some of his friends, who were celebrating the successful presentation of a fashion show that had taken place at Post earlier that evening.

At least one incident occurred inside of the club between some gang members and one of the Post students, which later spilled out into a parking lot across from the club.

Around 5 a.m., Berryman and a friend left the club and saw several fights happening in the parking lot. While walking to their car, Berryman's friend was hit in the head with a bottle, which cut him. Berryman and his friend then got into a car and drove away.

Several blocks from the club, Berryman's friend, who was driving, pulled the car over to the side of the road to tend to the cut on his head, which was bleeding profusely. At that point, Rivera pulled up alongside of the parked car and shot Berryman once, killing him because Rivera mistakenly believed that Berryman and his friend were involved in the fight in the parking lot and were a threat to the Latin Kings.