By Ivan Pereira
A Queens judge sentenced a Rosedale man to 24 years to life in prison last week for killing a teen in Springfield Park nearly four years ago, the Queens district attorney said.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory L. Lasak issued the punishment to Rashawn Wingfield, 22, of 147th Avenue, Feb. 9 for his October conviction on second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges, Queens DA Richard Brown said.
“The defendant was convicted of twice shooting a person he once called a friend in the back and then standing over the victim as he lay mortally wounded on the ground and firing a third shot into his back,” he said in a statement.
“Under the circumstances, the sentence meted out by the court is more than justified and will spare society further senseless acts of violence by the defendant.”
The incident took place May 26, 2007, when Antoine Alvares, 19, of Springfield Gardens was walking with friends at the park, according to the DA. Wingfield ran past Alvares, turned around, took out a .25-caliber handgun and fired twice into the teen’s back, Brown said.
While Alvares was on the ground wounded, Wingfield came up to him and shot him another time in the back, killing him, before fleeing the scene, the DA said.
Wingfield told detectives that he had an argument with the victim and obtained the weapon from a friend, according to court papers.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
