A Flatbush gang member will spend 35 years to life in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of a gang rival seven years ago.
21-year-old Anthony Francis was killed September 2, 2016, after being struck by a hail of bullets as he sat in a parked car with his girlfriend in Flatlands. Francis managed to push his girlfriend out of the car before collapsing, shielding her from the gunfire.
Tristan Murray, 30, was sentenced Tuesday by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Heidi Cesare after being convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on May 19, 2023, following a jury trial.
“This was a horrific and completely senseless act of violence unleashed upon two defenseless victims at point blank range,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “Gang violence destroys too many young lives in Brooklyn and fighting against that remains my highest priority. I hope today’s prison sentence makes clear that those who terrorize our communities will face very serious consequences.”
On the evening of September 2, 2016, at about 7 p.m, Francis and his girlfriend were sitting in his BMW following a date when Murray and his alleged accomplice drove up to the parked car and opened fire from their passenger side window, according to the DA’s office.
Per trial testimony, Murray and his alleged accomplice were affiliated with the Folk Nation gang in Flatbush and were looking for rival gang members to shoot at the time of the incident.
Before driving up alongside Francis’ BMW, the pair recognized him as a member of the rival Canarsie-based Woo gang, and yelled out “Woo, Woo, Woo,” which is a way that Woo members greet each other, according to testimony.
Murray and his alleged accomplice then fired at least nine shots from long caliber handguns into the vehicle, fatally striking Francis in the chest. He managed to push his girlfriend out of the car just before he died.
Investigating offices found multiple .40 caliber and .45 caliber shell casings at the scene, and traced the .45 caliber gun back to Murrary when he was arrested with the gun a day after the killing of Francis.
The case against Murray’s alleged accomplice, Tarell Herbert, 29, also of Brooklyn, is pending trial. He is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, and related charges.
