Two men were sentenced to up to 40 years to life in prison for a fatal shooting outside of a Valley Stream party venue two years ago.
On August 21, 2023, a party attended by individuals associated with the Crips street gang was held inside a venue on Ocean Avenue in Valley Stream. At approximately 8:22 p.m., Kyle Matthews and Isaiah Gonzalez walked toward a group of partygoers standing outside the entrance of the venue and fired at least eight gunshots from two different .380 caliber pistols at them.
Deandre Carter, 20, was struck in the left side of his chest, shattering his rib cage and piercing his heart and left lung. He later died from his injuries. Three others, including an individual who was 12 years old at the time, were also struck and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Members of both the Nassau County Police Department and the New York City Police Department responded to the scene.
The investigation uncovered surveillance video that showed Matthews and Gonzales driving in a Mercedes-Benz to multiple locations approximately 20 minutes before the shooting and getting out of the same vehicle to go to the venue. Additional video also showed the Mercedes driving in the vicinity of the shooting.
Matthews was arrested on September 6, 2023, by members of the NYPD in Far Rockaway. Gonzalez was arrested on September 8, 2023, in Manhattan by NYPD detectives.
Matthews and Gonzalez, both 23, were convicted on April 10, 2025, after a jury trial before Judge Helene Gugerty. They were each convicted of Murder in the Second Degree (a Class A-I felony); Conspiracy in the Second Degree (a Class B felony); and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a Class C violent felony).
Matthews and Gonzalez were both sentenced today to up to 40 years to life in prison.
“The calculated murder that ended Deandre Carter’s life took a beloved son, nephew, and friend from his family, and shattered the Valley Stream community,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Deandre had dreams of pursuing a career in criminal justice and becoming a police officer. Dreams that were stolen from him that August night. The lengthy prison sentences handed down today to these defendants send a message that gun violence will never be tolerated in Nassau County and that my office will be there to hold defendants accountable to every extent possible for their violent crimes. I commend my prosecutors for their pursuit of justice on behalf of Deandre and his loved ones.”