Hempstead Man Sentenced to Prison For Killing Teen With Machete: DA

HEMPSTEAD, NY - A former Hempstead pizza delivery man who killed a teen with a machete after a disagreement about a dice game in 2014, was sentenced to prison on Friday, according to the Nassau County District Attorney.

David Sadler, 47, of Hempstead, was found guilty on February 19 of first degree manslaughter and third degree criminal possession of a weapon, the DA said.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Patricia Harrington sentenced him to a determinate sentence of 25 years in prison for the manslaughter charge and an indeterminate sentence of over 2 to 7 years in prison for the weapons charge, according to the DA.

In July 2014, Sadler was playing a dice game on Albemarle Avenue in Hempstead with 17-year old Terrence Grier, Jr. and when the two got in a dispute after the game, Sadler returned to the area with a machete, according to the DA.

Grier told the Sadler that if he wanted to fight that he should drop the knife, but he refused and struck him in the neck with the machete, the DA said.

He suffered significant injuries to his jugular vein and died shortly afterwards, the DA said.

Sadler got in his car, but witnesses attempted to stop him and the car was damaged in the process, the DA said.

He was later arrested at his place of work by Hempstead Police Department officers.

Sadler was acquitted of the grand jury indictment charge of second degree murder, according to the DA.

“This heinous and horrific act – the killing of a 17-year old with a machete – took place in the middle of the day and in the middle of the street,” DA Singas said. “The defendant not only took the life of Terrence Grier, Jr., but destroyed and devastated a family. While this senseless killing can never be undone, it is my hope that today’s sentence will help bring some measure of consolation to those mourning Terrence’s tragic loss.”