4 Arrested In Drive-By Shooting Death Of Baseball Prospect In Yonkers
YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Four people have been charged in connection with the drive-by shooting death of a promising baseball prospect in a Burger King parking lot in Yonkers, authorities said.
Nashaun Hunter, Garth O'Neil Cole, Darren Dawson and Tejmitra Singh were arrested Wednesday.
Hunter is charged with second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon while the other three are each charged with criminal possession of a weapon and assault, acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty said.
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. back on Sept. 18.
Michael Nolan, 23, was standing near his car outside the fast food restaurant on Central Avenue when authorities said a white Toyota Camry with the four suspects inside slowly rolled up alongside Nolan.
That's when six shots rang out from the back driver's side window of the Camry, striking Nolan in the head and arm, authorities said. He was taken to the hospital where he remained in a coma until he died from his injuries on Oct. 9.
"Michael just loved to have fun… we're all heartbroken," Jim Nolan, the victim's father, told CBS2's Lou Young.
Still awash in grief, Nolan stood in the Yonkers Police Department flipping through a photo album with pictures of his murdered son, the once promising professional baseball prospect. At the time of the shooting, he said his son was a 6-foot-8 lefty pitcher who was being drafted by the Oakland A's.
Police said the investigation revealed that the shooting was connected to a drag race two nights earlier. McCarty said it was in retaliation for beating someone who was known to the suspects.
"The allegations in the indictment are frightening. It's alleged that Nashaun Hunter, aided and abetted by Garth O'Neil Cole, Darren Dawson and Tejmitra Singh, piled into a car and drove to a fast-food restaurant at which point the car they were in slowed so that Hunter could fire six shots and kill Michael Nolan, an innocent young man with a promising future," McCarty said in a statement.
Two detectives built the case on scant physical evidence with a score of uncooperative witnesses.
"It was a little tough in the beginning but once people started to cooperate, the best way to describe it, it all started to fall. It became a little easier," Det. Dale Hughes, of the Yonkers Police Department, said.
Athletics general manager David Forst said at the time that "Michael will always be a member of the A's family, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends for their tragic loss."
The victim's parents said they are grateful, but heartbroken.
"It'll never be the same. Michael was the laugh. Michael was the heart," Jim Nolan said.
"It's a difficult time for us… a lot to take in because today we actually had to see faces today," Donna Nolan, the victim's mother, said.
Authorities said .25 caliber shell casings were found at the scene and a .25 caliber bullet was recovered from Nolan's body.
The suspects are due back in court on Thursday. The alleged shooter faces 25 to life, while others could get as much as 25 years behind bars.
