Commonwealth's Attorney

[April 26, 2024] – Today Judge Tyneka Flythe sentenced De’Aundre Malique Jarrett to 67 years in prison for killing Messiah Martin outside Jarrett’s birthday party on September 3, 2022.

Jarrett held a birthday party that ended outside an apartment in Aqueduct that night. Jarrett began a verbal altercation with Messiah Martin, who was there asking his girlfriend to come home with him. Jarrett attempted to start a physical fight with Martin. When Martin did not engage in a fight, Jarrett punched Martin in the back of the head. As Martin was leaving, Jarrett pulled out a gun and shot him in the head and back.

Martin’s mother wrote a letter to the Judge, which was read aloud at the sentencing on Friday April 26, 2024, calling Martin a gift from God. She wrote that she had a hole in her heart and will always suffer pain because of his death.

“We will seek to hold accountable all those who commit violence in our neighborhoods. No arrest or conviction can bring Mr. Martin back to his family, and we pray for their healing from this horrific act,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn.

This case was prosecuted on behalf of the Commonwealth by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Jacqueline Edwards and Tatyana Singh.