Murder Charge For Convicted Felon Who Shot His Friend: DA

MASTIC, NY — A Long Island man has been found guilty of murder after killing his friend in 2023, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.

James Brown, 45, of Mastic, was found guilty on Friday after a jury trial of second-degree murder and other related charges for fatally shooting his longtime friend, Umar Elquhir, 45, of Mastic, in November 2023, the DA said.

"This previously convicted felon killed his longtime friend by shooting him multiple times," Tierney said. "I thank the jury for the attention they paid to this case. We will seek a sentence that ensures defendant Brown can no longer hurt other Suffolk County residents."

According to evidence established at trial, on Nov. 7, 2023, around 9:27 p.m., Suffolk County Police received multiple 911 calls reporting that a male was on the ground and had possibly been shot in the Poospatuck Reservation in Mastic. Upon arrival, police saw the victim unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds lying on the ground next to a home where Brown lived, the DA said.

The victim was transported to Long Island Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the DA said.

During their investigation, law enforcement obtained video surveillance from a smoke shop across the street from Brown’s home, which showed that Brown and the victim had a physical altercation earlier in the evening, the DA said.

After that, the victim left but returned about two hours later, parked outside Brown’s home and when he came out of the house, he walked toward the victim’s car while repeatedly yelling, "You wanna die?" before firing around nine shots into the vehicle and hitting the victim with multiple bullets while he was sitting in the driver's seat, the DA said.

The DA said Brown then went inside the house, and the victim got out of his vehicle and collapsed onto the ground. Brown testified at the trial that he was acting in self-defense and scared for his life, the DA said.

Police lifted a palm print from an area where Brown was seen to be touching when he was firing the shots in the video surveillance and when it was later tested, it was determined to be a match, the DA said.

On Friday, Brown was convicted of one count of second-degree murder, a Class A felony, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class C felonies, after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins, the DA said.

Brown was previously convicted in February 2012 of first-degree assault (Loaded Weapon) for which he was sentenced to five years imprisonment, the DA said. He is due back in court for sentencing on June 16, 2 and faces up to 40 years to life in prison, the DA said.

Brown is being represented by Jason Russo who was not immediately available for comment.