A Queens man pleaded guilty to murdering the driver of a vehicle he collided with in Baldwin in April 2023.
Patrick Destine, 27, pleaded guilty on May 7 before Judge Howard Sturim to second-degree murder (a Class A-I felony); fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property (a Class E felony); and two counts of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor).
On April 15, 2023, at approximately 11:02 p.m., 54-year-old David McKenzie, the victim, was driving his 2003 Honda near Shuman Place and Forest Avenue in Baldwin when he collided with a 2004 Infiniti driven by Destine and carrying two passengers, including co-defendant Aisha Pitt, causing damage to both vehicles.
After the crash, McKenzie began to walk away from the crash site, and Destine followed him. Destine then began kicking and stomping on McKenzie’s head repeatedly. McKenzie’s credit card and driver’s license were also taken.
When police arrived on the scene, they found McKenzie on the ground bleeding from the head. He was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:06 a.m. on April 16, 2023.
Destine and Pitt were walking away from the scene of the crash when police arrived. They were placed into custody by the Nassau County Police Department and transported to Nassau University Medical Center.
Pitt, 20, of Elmont, pleaded guilty on June 28, 2023, to fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property (a Class E felony) and was sentenced to six months in jail in August 2023.
Destine is due back in court on July 9, 2024, for sentencing. He is expected to be sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.
“In a sickening case of road rage fueled by alcohol, Patrick Destine violently attacked the victim David McKenzie after a late-night collision in Baldwin,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “The defendant kicked and stomped David repeatedly and left him bleeding in the street. As David lay dying, the defendant also took his credit card and tried to flee the scene. Our thoughts remain with David’s family as his killer is brought to justice.”