By Ivan Pereira
A Brooklyn man was sentenced to more than two decades in prison Friday for killing another man in the middle of downtown Jamaica in 2008 over some bad blood involving a woman, the Queens district attorney said.
Lee Anderson Edwards, 25, of 1345 E. 85th St. was convicted of second-degree murder in February in the murder of Lonnie Thompson, Queens DA Richard Brown said.
Edwards shot the 38-year-old at the corner of Jamaica Avenue and Parsons Boulevard around 8 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008, in retaliation after Thompson’s friends reportedly slashed the face of one of Edwards’ acquaintances, according to the DA. Additionally, Edwards told investigators that he hated Thompson for reportedly hitting on his girlfriend, Brown said.
Queens Supreme Court Justice John B. Latella Jr. imposed a sentenced of 22 years to life in prison.
“The sentence imposed today by the court punishes the defendant for this senseless shooting and hopefully brings closure to the victim’s family,” the DA said in a statement.
Edwards fled the scene by car following the shooting, which was videotaped by surveillance cameras, but was stopped by police moments later, Brown said. The .357-caliber revolver that was used in the shooting was found at Edwards’ feet and a bag containing a .22-caliber revolver was also inside the vehicle, according to the DA.
The Brooklyn man confessed to the killing to investigators in writing and on video, the DA said. He also confessed committing the crime to the girlfriend in a recorded phone conversation in jail, according to Brown.
“This case highlights, once again, the need to get illegal handguns off of the streets and out of the hands of criminals,” Brown said in a statement.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
