Long Beach Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison For Attempting to Kill Ex-Girlfriend, Setting Hotel Room on Fire: DA

LYNBROOK, NY - A Long Beach man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday for attempting to murder a former girlfriend in 2014 and for torching a Lynbrook Holiday Inn Express room in 2013, according to the Nassau County District Attorney.

Diquan Booker, 27, was sentenced by Acting Supreme Court Justice William O’Brien to a determinate sentence of 15 years in prison.

He plead guilty in October to several charges from the two separate incidents which included: attempted murder, first degree criminal use of a firearm, second degree arson and first degree criminal contempt, according to the DA.

In September 2013, Booker was staying in a Holiday Inn Express on Sunrise Highway when he purchased charcoal lighter fluid and used it to set part of the hotel room on fire, according to the DA.

The Lynbrook Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire, which was deemed suspicious by the Nassau County Fire Marshal.

He was arrested the Nassau County Police Department Arson/Bomb Squad after an investigation and charged with the arson in October 2013.

Booker was arrested again in July 2014 at a North Merrick home for attempting to murder his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend, according to the DA.

The two were arguing when Booker produced a sawed-off shotgun and pointed it at her face, the DA said.

The woman, in an attempt to protect her face, put her hands up and he shot her injuring her in the hands, shoulder and face with birdshot, according to the DA.

She was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries, which included the amputation of two fingers, the DA said.

Booker was arrested at the scene by members of the Nassau County Police Department First Precinct.

“This violent defendant showed no care or concern for the lives and safety of other people,” District Attorney Madeline Singas said. “In two separate incidents he set a hotel room on fire – jeopardizing the lives of everyone in the building, as well as first responders – and later, he attempted to murder a former girlfriend by firing a shotgun at her face. Tackling the scourge of domestic violence is a priority for my office and we will aggressively prosecute abusers like Diquan Booker.”