A Hempstead man was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison for the murder of a 24-year-old man during a November 2021 attempted robbery in Uniondale.
On the night of November 10, 2021, Khamari Elie, co-defendant Kyle Colthirst, and two additional co-defendants, Tariq Pitaud and Tyrel Cason Jr., went to 1001 Alexander Avenue in Uniondale to rob 24-year-old Kyle Midtlyng. Pitaud lured Midtlyng to the location under the pretense of wanting to buy marijuana, texting him to set up the purchase.
Elie drove Colthirst and the co-defendants to the scene, where Colthirst exited the vehicle to rob Midtlyng. Cason Jr. also allegedly accompanied Colthirst to confront Midtlyng. Colthirst entered the front passenger side of the victim’s vehicle and during the attempted robbery, shot Midtlyng once in the right side, piercing both lungs and his aorta. Colthirst then exited the vehicle and fled down Lee Road.
Nassau County police officers responded to the area after a 911 call was placed and found Midtlyng lying in the middle of the road outside of his car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A shell casing was recovered from the passenger side floorboard of the victim’s vehicle and blood droplets were found on the sidewalk of Lee Road that matched Colthirst’s DNA.
Colthirst, 20, was also wearing an Electronic Monitoring device at the time of the murder, and GPS data placed the monitor at the scene during the time the crime was committed. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on April 2, 2024, after being convicted at trial of Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Robbery in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
Pitaud, 21, was sentenced to 17 years in prison on November 1, 2024, after he was convicted at trial of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
Elie, 20, pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024, before Judge Tammy Robbins to Murder in the Second Degree (a Class A-I felony); Attempted Robbery in the First Degree (a Class C violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (both Class C violent felonies). He also pleaded guilty to three counts of Robbery in the First Degree (a Class B violent felony); two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (both C violent felonies), Menacing in the Second Degree (a Class A misdemeanor) and Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree (a Class A misdemeanor) stemming from a separate indictment. On December 11, 2024, Eliw was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison. The Nassau County District Attorney’s office recommended a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
The case against co-defendant Cason Jr., 22, of South Farmingdale, is pending.
“Khamari Elie and his friends lured Kyle Midtlyng to Uniondale to rob him, contributing to the young man’s tragic and senseless death,” said Nassau DA Anne Donnelly. “While Mr. Elie did not pull the trigger and kill Kyle Midtlyng himself, today’s sentence reflects the gravity of this defendant’s actions and his participation in Kyle’s death. I hope this sends a clear message that anyone involved in violent crimes in our neighborhoods will be held accountable with severe consequences.”