A Bloods gang member was convicted by a jury today of the murder of a 21-year-old man and attempted murder of another individual in November 2020.
Floyd McNeil, a/k/a DOT and Diddy DOT, 27, of Hempstead, was convicted after a trial before Judge Howard Sturim of second-degree murder (an A-I felony); second-degree attempted murder (a B violent felony); first-degree attempted assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (all C violent felonies).
The trial began on November 14. After deliberating for approximately two days, the jury reached a verdict of guilty. McNeil is due back for sentencing on January 31, 2024 and faces a potential maximum of 65 years to life in prison.
McNeil is currently serving a sentence of 25 years after being convicted at trial in June 2022 of second-degree attempted murder (a B violent felony), first-degree assault and criminal use of a firearm (both B violent felonyies); and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (a C violent felony) for a September 2019 shooting in Hempstead.
On November 28, 2020, 21-year-old Taffarie Haughton and a second 19-year-old victim were at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Freeport. The victims entered the park bathroom and were followed by several Bloods gang members who were attending a gang meeting in the park.
When Haughton and the other victim attempted to leave the park, the exit was blocked by numerous members of the gang, including the defendant. McNeil and his co-defendant, Christopher Anderson, then began firing on the victims, striking them both.
Haughton was struck twice, once in the chest, piercing his lung and heart, and once in the left foot. He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The other victim was struck once in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.
Seven shell casings were recovered from the scene.
McNeil and Anderson were both arrested on June 13, 2022, by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
Anderson pleaded guilty in June 2023 before Sturim to second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder. He was sentenced in August to 22 years to life in prison.
“Floyd McNeil is an exceptionally dangerous gang member who has left a trail of destruction in Hempstead and Freeport,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “This defendant senselessly murdered a 21-year-old man, and nearly killed another, for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our communities are undoubtedly safer now that McNeil has been found guilty of murder by a jury of his peers. Our condolences are with the family of Taffarie Haughton and everyone else impacted by this defendant’s violence. We thank the Nassau County Police Department and the Eastern District of New York for their assistance in this prosecution.”