Man Gets 40 Years To Life For Fatal Shooting At LI July 4 Party: DA

MINEOLA, NY — A Brooklyn man was sentenced on Tuesday to 40 years to life in prison for murdering a 21-year-old at a Massapequa house party on July 4, 2020, prosecutors announced.

Thomas Massenburg, 23, was convicted in September of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

“The Fourth of July should be a day of celebration, but this defendant turned a backyard party into a violent and tragic scene when he shot at multiple party goers and killed a 21-year-old man,” said Donnelly. “Thomas Massenburg now faces the consequences for his devastating choices that night, and his sentence today ensures that he will no longer pose a threat to our communities.”

Donnelly said that, on July 4, 2020, Massenburg and other alleged members of the Mac Baller Bloods from Brooklyn attended a Fourth of July party on West Drive in Massapequa.

Rashawn Cummings, a friend of another defendant, Learyk Jarvis, came to the party later and a physical altercation ensued between the two groups in the basement of the home, Donnelly said.

Jarvis allegedly waved a gun in the air and told everyone to leave the house.

During the altercation, Massenburg obtained a loaded gun from Quran Blue, another Mac Baller Blood from Brooklyn, and a friend of the defendant, and shot Cummings once in the leg and once in the back. Massenburg also shot another man once in the arm and twice in the buttocks. That man survived, prosecutors said.

After the shooting, Massenburg passed the gun to Blue, who went outside and fired an additional five shots from the weapon, Donnelly said.

Massenburg is represented by Sam Karliner and Mitchell Ellman, who Patch attempted to get a comment about the sentencing.

Jarvis charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and was sentenced on April 13, 2023, to 3-1/2 years in prison and five years’ post release supervision, Donnelly said.

Blue was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced on June 8, 2023, to 3-1/2 years in prison and five years’ post release supervision, Donnelly said.