Megan O’Donnell Division Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division and the District Court and Intake Division | Official Website
Megan O’Donnell Division Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division and the District Court and Intake Division | Official Website
Basheer Vinson, a 29-year-old from Brooklyn, has been found guilty of second-degree murder, attempted assault in the first degree, and other related charges. This follows a jury trial concerning a 2020 attempted robbery and shooting that resulted in the death of Mark Birthwright, 26, from Bay Shore and injuries to Robert Brown, 30, from Bellport.
District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney commented on the case: "This defendant fatally gunned down Mark Birthwright at a house party in Wyandanch and severely injured Robert Brown. Every resident in Suffolk County deserves a safe environment free from the fear that gunfire will erupt at random. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous criminals like Basheer Vinson out of our communities."
The incident occurred on August 2, 2020. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Vinson attended a house party on Patton Avenue in Wyandanch. At around 2:05 a.m., as Birthwright and Brown were leaving the party, Birthwright dropped a roll of cash which he then picked up before walking outside. Vinson and another unidentified individual approached them with guns drawn and demanded the cash.
A struggle ensued between Birthwright and Vinson during which Vinson's purple baseball hat was knocked off. Vinson then shot Birthwright in the chest. Brown turned back to assist but was also shot by Vinson.
Authorities were alerted as both suspects fled the scene. Birthwright died at the location while Brown was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Good Samaritan Hospital.
DNA evidence collected from Vinson's hat left at the scene matched his profile along with DNA from one of the spent cartridge casings. He was arrested on October 4, 2022.
On September 24, 2024, following a jury trial presided over by Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, Vinson was convicted of several charges:
- Murder in the Second Degree (Class A felony)
- Attempted Assault in the First Degree (Class C violent felony)
- Attempted Robbery in the First Degree (Class C violent felony)
- Assault in the Second Degree (Class D violent felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class C violent felony)
Vinson is scheduled to return to court on October 24, 2024. He faces up to 25 years to life imprisonment for his top count conviction and is being represented by John Halverson Esq.
The prosecution team includes Assistant District Attorneys Timothy Gough and Dena Rizopoulos from the Homicide Bureau while Jeff Bottari and Detective Scott Aquilino conducted investigations for Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
###
Alerts Sign-up