An alleged Bloods gang member pleaded guilty to the murder of a 21-year-old man in Freeport and attempted murder of another surviving victim in November 2020 and, separately, to attempted murder and weapons charges for shooting at four police officers during a car chase in December 2020.
Christopher Anderson, also known as CK, 27, of Roosevelt, pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge Howard Sturim to second-degree murder (an A-I felony) and second-degree attempted murder (a B violent felony) for a shooting of 21-year-old Taffarie Haughton and a second 19-year-old victim on November 28, 2020, at Martin Luther King Park in Freeport.
The victims entered the park bathroom and were allegedly followed by several Bloods gang members who were attending a gang meeting in the park. When Haughton and the other victim attempted to leave the park, the exit was allegedly blocked by numerous members of the gang, including the defendant. Anderson and his co-defendant, Floyd McNeil, then allegedly began firing on the victims, striking them both. Haughton was struck twice, once in the chest, piercing his lung and heart, and once in the left foot. He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The other victim was struck once in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
Seven shell casings were recovered from the scene. Anderson and McNeil were both arrested on June 13, 2022, by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
McNeil, who goes by DOT and Diddy DOT, 27, of Hempstead was charged with second-degree murder (an A-I felony); second-degree attempted murder (a B violent felony) and first-degree attempted assault and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (all C violent felonies).
Anderson also pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder (an A-I felony) and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a C violent felony) to satisfy the indictment for shooting at four police officers on December 29, 2020. On that day at approximately 8:14 p.m., four Hempstead Police Detectives pursued Anderson’s vehicle with lights and sirens activated for approximately one-and-a half-miles through Roosevelt as he weaved in and out of traffic and drove at high rates of speed. Anderson pulled into a driveway near Pennywood Avenue and tried to exit the vehicle as officers approached within feet of the defendant. Anderson then fired three shots in the officers’ direction and missed. Officers returned fire and Anderson fled the scene unharmed. He was arrested on December 30, 2020.
Anderson is due back in court for sentencing on August 30, 2023. He is expected to be sentenced to 22 years to life in prison.
The case against McNeil is pending. He faces up to 50 years to life in prison if convicted. In addition, he is currently serving a sentence of 25 years after being convicted at trial in June 2022 of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and criminal use of a firearm (all B violent felonies) and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a C violent felony) for another September 2019 shooting in Hempstead.
“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 Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “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.”