Suspect describes night of killing
Geremias Caceres, 39, of Huntington Station, was shot and killed Jan. 24, 2010. Credit: Handout
A young Huntington Station man and two friends were just hanging out at his house before they went out into the cold night looking for someone to rob, he testified Monday.
When the night of Jan. 24, 2010, was over, they'd killed one man and two of the three were under arrest, Gni Brown, 20, testified at the murder trial of his friend, Ralph Guerrier, 26. Brown testified before state Supreme Court Justice Mark Cohen as part of a deal in which he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in return for a promise of the minimum sentence of 15 years to life.
It was Guerrier's idea to rob someone, Brown said in a flat, emotionless voice. At Guerrier's house, he recalled, Guerrier got three guns out of a safe in his room and gave one to each. The third person was 15 years old at the time. He was arrested recently and charged as a juvenile.
They walked out toward West Hills Road, Brown said during questioning by Assistant District Attorney Glenn Kurtzrock.
"We were searching for random people to rob," he said. They soon found some -- Geremias Caceres, 39, walking home with his son Dennis, then 17. "Ralph said, 'Let's get them.' "
They caught up with them on 10th Avenue, one door down from the Caceres' home. "We told them to get down," Brown said. "Ralph told them to empty out their pockets."
The older man didn't get down, saying he had nothing, Brown said. "Ralph began to fire his weapon, and I followed suit," Brown said.
The robbers took off, running through yards, he said.
"I asked who hit him," Brown said. "Ralph said he thought he hit him."
They stashed their guns under the younger boy's doghouse, and he went in his home. Police testified earlier about finding guns under the doghouse.
Brown said he and Guerrier went to a bodega and bought cigars that they planned to fill with marijuana. When Guerrier and Brown saw police swarming the neighborhood, they again began running through yards but soon were caught.
During cross-examination by defense attorney Mary Elizabeth Abbate, Brown said he testified to have the chance of getting out of prison earlier.
"When it came down to it, that was your only option for getting a deal, wasn't it?" Abbate asked him.
"Yes," Brown said.
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