A Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison after killing another man in Wyandanch.
On August 2, 2020, at approximately 2:05 a.m., Mark Birthwright, 26, of Bay Shore, and another victim, 30, of Bellport, were confronted by Basheer Vinson, 30, of Brooklyn, at a party on Patton Avenue when Birthwright dropped a large roll of cash on the ground. He picked it up and continued to leave the party. Once outside, Vinson and a second unknown individual approached Birthwright with firearms drawn and demanded the cash.
A brief struggle occurred between Birthwright and Vinson during which Vinson’s purple baseball cap was knocked off his head and landed on the ground. Vinson then fired one shot into Birthwright’s chest. When the other victim went back to help Birthwright, Vinson fired one shot at him as well, hitting him in the side.
The police were contacted, and Vinson and the second individual ran away. Birthwright was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victim was brought to Good Samaritan Hospital and treated for non-fatal injuries.
Vinson’s DNA was found in the purple baseball cap left at the scene, and a partial DNA profile matching Vinson’s was discovered in one of the spent 9-millimeter cartridge casings.
On October 4, 2022, Vinson was arrested.
On September 24, 2024, Vinson was convicted of the following charges:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony
- Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a Class C felony
- Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a Class C felony
- Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C felony
On April 2, 2025, Vinson was sentenced to 25 years to life in jail for his conviction of murder in the second degree, and 15 years on his attempted assault in the first degree conviction to run consecutively, for a total sentence of 40 years to life. All other charges are to run concurrently.
“Unfortunately, this sentence cannot change history and the fact that the loss of a victim’s life was sudden, brutal and senseless,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. “This was a violent and premeditated murder and robbery. We are gratified that the judge imposed the requested maximum sentence and hope the victim’s loved ones find some small degree of solace in this very well-deserved sentence.”