BRONX MAN IS CONVICTED OF MURDERING TWO INNOCENT BYSTANDERS IN A GUNFIGHT

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 24 year-old Kenroy Hinds has been convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of two innocent bystanders in the Olinville section of the Bronx in November 2001.

Hinds, aka "Paul Stan", of 721 East 213th Street, pled guilty to two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree, "in a manner evincing a depraved indifference to human life", in the deaths of Romel Jenkins, 5, and Sergio Carmago, 25, of Phoenix Arizona.

State Supreme Court Justice Lawrence H. Bernstein set sentencing for Friday, September 26, 2003 in Part M20. Under the terms of the plea agreement Hinds will be sentenced to a term of 23 years to life imprisonment.

The trial for co-defendant Duval Thorpe of 4429 Ely Avenue, the Bronx, is expected to begin tomorrow (Wednesday, September 10, 2003) in Supreme Court, Part M20. Thorpe is charged with two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree, one count of Reckless endangerment in the 1st degree and one count of Criminal possession of a weapon in the 3rd degree. If convicted of the most serious charge of murder, Thorpe faces a maximum term of 25 years to life imprisonment on each count.

The fatal shootings occurred during the early evening hours on November 19, 2001, near the intersection of White Plains Road and Rosewood Street. Hinds was engaged in a gunfight with another person alleged to be Thorpe, during which stray shots hit Jenkins in the back and Carmago in the chest.

Senior Trial Assistant District Attorney Theresa Gottlieb is prosecuting these cases.