New suspect identified as shooter in Demitri Hampton murder case
A fourth suspect has been identified as the shooter that allegedly killed 21-year-old Demitri Hampton during a home invasion in 2013.
Messiah Booker, 27, who is currently incarcerated upstate on weapons charges, fired the fatal shot that killed Mr. Hampton at a home in Flanders on Jan. 27, 2013, assistant district attorney Glenn Kurtzrock said during a Friday morning arraignment on a grand jury indictment for three other suspects — Michael Parrish, 26, of Coram; Corry Wallace, 40, of Riverhead and Danielle Hall, 39, of Calverton.
Those three suspects have been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree burglary and are being held without bail.
The three male suspects all had a weapon and entered the home during the invasion and Ms. Hall drove the getaway car, Mr. Kurtzrock said.
Wearing pink cheetah print leggings in State Supreme Court before Justice Richard Ambro, the pregnant Ms. Hall told her attorney, Daniel Russo: “I was never there. How did that happen?”
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After entering a not guilty plea, Mr. Russo said Ms. Hall wasn’t involved with the murder and was connected to the case “solely because she is family of the co-defendants.”
Due to her failure to appear in court on four different occasions on a prior criminal contempt case and numerous misdemeanor charges, the judge granted the district attorney’s request that she be held without bail.
Mr. Wallace and Mr. Parrish have also been charged with failing to appear in court for prior charges, Mr. Kurtzrock said.
Mr. Wallace was previously arrested on robbery charges, Mr. Kurtzrock said, adding Mr. Wallace was released from jail and was on parole five days before Mr. Hampton was killed.
Mr. Wallace’s attorney, Richard Stafford, entered a plea of not guilty on his client’s behalf and asked for a jury trial.
Mr. Parrish was arrested on a felony assault charge in 2008 and has had a warrant out for his arrest in New York City since 2012, Mr. Kurtzrock said.
Mr. Parrish’s attorney, Vincent Bianco, asked that some bail be set since Mr. Parrish was a lifelong Coram resident, had completed necessary community service for a prior arrest and successfully completed a prior probation sentence.
Dozens of people attended Friday’s arraignment to support Mr. Hampton and his family. His mother, Juanita Trent, said that she’s thankful for the community support.
“This affects the whole community and I’m grateful to be a part of Riverhead,” she said.
She added that she has not lost her faith and “justice has to be served for my son.”
“I thank God for where we are now,” she added.
Ms. Hall and Mr. Wallace are due back in court Dec. 3 and Mr. Parrish Dec. 4.
Photo Caption: Messiah Booker mugshot
