A 51-year-old man has been convicted of murder as a hate crime and other charges for stabbing a 20-year-old Brooklyn man to death on Labor Day.
What We Know:
- Authorities stated, on September 7th, James Williams was sitting on the same bench as Massiah Berkley on a pathway off Beach 20th Street, Far Rockaway, Queens. Williams apparently used homophobic profanities against Berkley.
- The defendant apparently called the victim a “f—-t,” which turned into a confrontation. It ended with Williams apparently pulling out a knife and stabbing Berkley in the chest and the back of the head.
- Cops arrived at the scene and responded to reports of a fight just before 4 p.m. They found Berkley lying face up and bleeding. He was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. Williams was taken into custody near the scene a short time after the attack.
- Queens District Attorney, Melissa Katz, stated that the defendants own words revealed that his prejudiced perceptions are what ignited this deadly attack. She went on to mention that violence is never the acceptable option. Still, the violence prompted by hate and prejudice is uniquely abhorrent and will always be charged by this office to the complete extent of the law.
- Williams, who resides in New Haven Avenue in Far Rockaway, is scheduled to be convicted on Tuesday, September 29th, in front of Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter on a five-count indictment. He is being charged with murder as a hate-crime in the second degree, second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon third and fourth degree, and tampering with evidence. If charged, the defendant faces 25 years to life in prison.
- Williams, who is being represented by Queen Defenders, has declined to comment at this time.
The investigation was performed by Detective Drew Solomon of the New York City Police Department’s 101st Precinct Detective Squad and the Queens Homicide North Detective Squad.
