Gregory Lasak's Wrongful Murder Conviction of Tullie Hyman

Indictment of Tullie Hyman, Jonathan Whitmore, and Osimba Rabsatt

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the indictment of three young men on charges of murdering a member of the Redfern Houses tenants' patrol when a stray bullet fired in a wild shoot-out between the men on the street in front of the victim's building tore through the lobby door and struck and killed her.

District Attorney Brown said, "The indictment alleges that the victim - - a well regarded member of the tenant safety patrol and a beloved tenant of the building - - was killed as a result of the depraved indifference to human life demonstrated by the three defendants in wantonly and recklessly shooting over two dozen times at each other in a public place".

District Attorney Brown identified the defendants as Tullie Hyman, 20, of 69-41 DeCosta Avenue, Arverne, N.Y., Jonathan Whitmore, 26, of 13-57 Dinkins Street, Far Rockaway and Osimba Rabsatt, 18, of 69-20 Hillmeyer Avenue, Far Rockaway. They are all charged with Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. They are all being held without bail. If convicted of murder they face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

According to District Attorney Brown on the night of the murders, March 10, 2000, Mrs. Medina was on duty in the lobby of her building at 15-40 Hassock Street in the Redfern Houses. At about 7:15 pm it is charged, the defendants Hyman and Rabsatt drove up the street and began shooting at the defendant Whitmore and a fourth man who were standing on the street near the victim's building. Whitmore and the fourth man who is being sought returned fire. In the ensuing gun battle, approximately 30 shots were exchanged between the four men. Two stray bullets tore through the lobby door one at which hit and killed Ms. Medina. The defendants fled the scene. Jonathan Whitmore was arrested shortly after the crime occurred and the remaining two defendants were arrested on March 12th and June 8, 2000 respectively.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel R. Schorr of the District Attorney's Homicide Investigations bureau which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter T. Reese and Robert J. Schwerdt and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Gregory L. Lasak is in charge of the case.

It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and that a defendant should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.