Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said today that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the murder of a 21-year-old man at a Massapequa home party on July 4, 2020.
On September 26, 2024, a jury trial before Judge Howard Sturim found Thomas Massenburg, 23, of Brooklyn, New York, guilty of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony), Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony), Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony), and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony).
The defendant was condemned today to 40 years to life in jail.
“The Fourth of July should be a day of celebration, but this defendant turned a backyard party into a violent and tragic scene when he shot at multiple party goers and killed a 21-year-old man,” said DA Donnelly.
“Thomas Massenburg now faces the consequences for his devastating choices that night, and his sentence today ensures that he will no longer pose a threat to our communities.”
DA Donnelly stated that on July 4, 2020, Massenburg and other alleged members of the Mac Baller Bloods from Brooklyn attended a Fourth of July party on West Drive in Massapequa.
Rashawn Cummings, a friend of another defendant, Learyk Jarvis, arrived later during the party, and the two groups got into a physical brawl in the home’s basement.
Jarvis allegedly flashed a gun in the air and ordered everyone to leave the residence.
During the altercation, at around 11:15 p.m., Massenburg obtained a loaded gun from Quran Blue, another Mac Baller Blood from Brooklyn, and the defendant’s acquaintance, and shot Cummings once in the thigh and once in the back. Massenburg also shot another individual once in the arm and twice in the buttocks. That man survived.
Jarvis allegedly shot Massenburg in the groin.
Cummings was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the shooting, Massenburg handed the rifle to Blue, who stepped outside and fired five more shots from the firearm.
Massenburg was arrested on June 3, 2021, by Nassau County Police Department officers.
The NCPD arrested Jarvis on June 17, 2021.
Jarvis was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and sentenced on April 13, 2023, to three and a half years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.
On March 3, 2022, Blue was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. On June 8, 2023, he was sentenced to three and a half years in jail with five years of post-release supervision.
Stefanie Palma, Senior Litigation Counsel for the Homicide Bureau, is pursuing the case under the direction of Bureau Chief Jared Rosenblatt and the Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division, Kevin Higgins. Massenburg is represented by Sam Karliner, Esq., and Mitchell Ellman, Esq. Steven Gaitman, Esq. represented Jarvis, while David Adhami, Esq. represented Blue.
