Killer Rifled Through Man's Pockets As He Lay Dying: Nassau DA

HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Hempstead man was charged in a 20-count indictment with multiple counts of murder, assault and robbery, the Nassau County district attorney said.

Deshawn Martin, 25, of Hempstead, was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, six counts of first-degree robbery, four counts of first-degree criminal use of a firearm, three counts of second-degree robbery, first-degree attempted robbery, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree assault and second-degree menacing.

Martin pleaded not guilty to the charges, and is due back in court on May 13. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

“The facts of this case are truly chilling. As Santos Valeriano Argueta lay dying on the ground – after this defendant allegedly shot him at point-blank range in the head – Martin rifled through the dying man’s pockets to steal his cell phone and attempted to continue his robbery of the Antojitos Express,” said District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Just days after the shooting, Martin allegedly held up two more stores in Nassau County at gunpoint. Our thoughts are with the family of Santos Valeriano Argueta as they mourn this tragic loss.”

According to Donnelly, at 10:54 p.m. on Jan. 30, Martin entered Antojitos Express on Peninsula Boulevard in Hempstead. He ordered everyone to get on the ground, Donnelly said, and then pistol-whipped a patron multiple times.

Santos Valeriano Argueta, 49, intervened and managed to push Martin out of the restaurant, Donnelly said. Once outside, Martin shot Argueta three times at close range, hitting him in the arm, chest and head, Donnelly said. As Argueta lay dying, Donnelly said that Martin went through his pockets and stole his phone, and then fled.

Days later, on Feb. 3, Donnelly said that Martin committed two more robberies. First, at 4:03 a.m., Donnelly said he entered a 7-Eleven at 333 Oak St. in Uniondale and robbed the store at gunpoint. Later, at 7:19 p.m., Donnelly said he robbed a Dunkin' Donuts at 467 Old Country Road in Westbury at gunpoint.

In the indictment, Martin is also charged with three other robberies that occurred in Oct. 2021 with his co-defendant, Shinel Waldrop, 25, of Hempstead.

According to Donnelly, on Oct. 22, 2021, Waldrop drove Martin to a Subway at 1341 Jerusalem Ave. in Merrick. Martin entered the store with a paper bag over his right hand and said he had a gun, Donnelly said. Martin stole cash, and then the two fled the scene, Donnelly said.

The next day, Waldrop drove Martin to a Dunkin' Donuts at 432 Jerusalem Ave. in Hicksville, Donnelly said. Martin again entered the store with a bag over his hand, Donnelly said, and robbed more than $1,300 from the store.

On Oct. 26, Donnelly said the two did the same thing to a 7-Eleven at 150 Sunnyside Boulevard in Plainview. Martin stole $200 from the store in that instance, Donnelly said.

Waldrop was arrested in West Hempstead on Feb. 7. She is charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery. She is also due back in court on May 13. If convicted, she could face up to 25 years in prison.

Martin was arrested on Feb. 9 in Freeport by detectives of the NCPD’s Homicide Squad and Bureau of Special Operations.