Bloods Gang Member Pleads Guilty To Murder In Nassau Park Shooting: Prosecutors

MINEOLA, NY — A member of the violent Bloods gang pleaded guilty Thursday to murdering a man in Freeport, as well as other attempted murder and weapons charges.

Christopher Anderson, 27, of Roosevelt, also known as CK, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the November 2020 shooting death of 21-year-old Taffarie Haughton at Martin Luther King Park, prosecutors announced Friday. Anderson also pleaded guilty to attempted murder for shooting at a 19-year-old that day.

The victims entered the park bathroom and were followed by several Bloods gang members, who were attending a gang meeting in the park, prosecutors said. When Haughton and the other victim tried to leave the park, numerous members of the gang blocked the exit, including Anderson. Anderson and co-defendant Floyd McNeil opened fire on the victims, striking them both, prosecutors said.

Haughton was struck twice, once in the chest, piercing his lung and heart, and once in the left foot. He died at Nassau University Medical Center.

The other victim was struck once in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital.

“Christopher Anderson callously opened fired on Taffarie Haughton and another teenage victim in the middle of the afternoon in Martin Luther King Park because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time during a Bloods gang meeting,” said Anne Donnelly, the district attorney. “Just a month later, almost to the day, the defendant led Hempstead Police detectives on a high-speed pursuit through the streets of Roosevelt. The chase ended in a hail of gunfire and Anderson fled the scene. Thankfully the officers were unharmed, but Taffarie sadly lost his life because of this defendant’s wanton violence. We will continue to stamp out gang violence in our communities so that no more innocent lives are lost.”

Anderson is due back in court for sentencing Aug. 30, where he's expected to be sentenced to 22 years to life in prison, prosecutors said.

Anderson and McNeil were both arrested June 13, 2022.

Floyd McNeil, 27, of Hempstead, also known as DOT and Diddy DOT, was charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder, as well as attempted assault weapons charges in the shooting. His case remained pending, and he could face up to 50 years to life in prison if convicted.

McNeil is already serving a 25-year sentence after being convicted in June 2022 of attempted murder, as well as assault and weapons charges in a September 2019 shooting in Hempstead.