Police: Long Island man beaten to death in apparent road rage incident
BALDWIN, N.Y. -- Police are investigating what they say was a case of deadly road rage in Nassau County.
A candle was placed adjacent to the Baldwin home of the McKenzie family on Monday. It was near there that 54-year-old David McKenzie lost his life over the weekend, the victim of a violent altercation with another driver, police said.
"I lost my son for nothing at all. It shouldn't be. He was coming home to me," Pearline McKenzie said.
Detectives say David McKenzie, the patriarch of the extended family, was a half block from his house just before 11 p.m. on Saturday when his minivan was struck on the side by a Queens driver who was allegedly drunk and driving with his headlights turned off.
Witnesses in the quiet neighborhood told police they heard the suspect shouting "I should kill you" as he exited his car to confront the grandfather.
"He began to violently assault him and kick him to his death, then rummaged through his pockets after the victim lay lifeless on the ground," said Det. Capt. Stephen Fitzpatrick of the Nassau Homicide Squad.
The suspect, identified as Patrick Destine of Hollis, then allegedly grabbed valuables from the victim's car and he and his girlfriend initially ran from police.
The family of the 26-year-old suspect supported him in court on Monday.
"Now, these are just allegations. We are not looking to rush to any judgment. We are waiting for the truth to come out," defense attorney Scott Migden said.
Following the arraignment, the suspect's 19-year-old girlfriend, who was with him that night in the car, began an altercation with the family of the victim, and when asked to cease and desist became combative with police and was arrested.
David McKenzie's family said they don't want the drama outside the courtroom to overshadow their pain.
"David was the type of person who would try to walk away. It's a wound that's gonna take a very long time to heal," sister-in-law Vivienne Williams-McKenzie said.
The suspect's car was brand new to him. He had just paid $4,000 for the used Infinity. Investigators say his rage over a dent in his car was motive for murder.
The suspect is being held without bail. His girlfriend, Aisha Pitt, was charged Monday afternoon with disorderly conduct and assault on a police officer.