A convicted felon pleaded guilty to the shooting death of a woman in her home on New Year’s Eve.
On the evening of December 31, 2023, at approximately 11:24 p.m., five individuals, including Detrich Emanuel and Kristine Costantino, were at Kristine Costantino’s apartment in Middle Island. Emanuel and the victim became engaged in a tense verbal exchange with each other. Emanuel then pulled out a firearm, pointed it at the victim’s chest, and shot her. Emanuel called 911 to report the incident, but then fled the scene before the police showed up.
When police arrived to render aid, Constantino, 40, repeatedly said Emanuel’s name. She was later pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital. On January 14, 2024, Emanuel was arrested in the Bronx.
In July 2018, prior to his arrest in this case, Emanuel was convicted in Queens County of second-degree attempted burglary.
On August 20, 2024, Emanuel, 31, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, a Class B violent felony, before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins. Emanuel is due back in court on October 10, 2024, and he is expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
“After a minor verbal argument, this defendant shot Kristine Costantino, killing her in her own home,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “While this plea cannot undo the immense pain caused to the victim’s family and loved ones, we hope it spares them from the additional trauma of a trial and keeps this defendant from hurting anyone else in the community.”