GRAND JURY CHARGES EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD BRONX YOUTH WITH MURDER IN CONTRACT KILLING IN DISPUTE OVER DRUG TURF

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that Alan Brown (aka C Philly), 18, has been indicted for murder in the death of Shawron Hughes in a contract killing that was the result of a shooting that occurred on July 7, 2005. Hughes was shot in the head but did not succumb to his wounds until October 19, 2006. Brown also has been charged with a second count of murder in the death of an innocent bystander, Wellington Contrera.

Brown today was arraigned on the indictment in which the grand jury charged him with two counts of Murder in the 2nd degree, two counts of Manslaughter in the 1st degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree. Brown, of 2734 Sedgewick Avenue, the Bronx, is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment on each count if convicted of Murder in the 2nd degree, the most serious of the charges filed against him.

Two other people named in the indictment, Terrance Degraffenreid (aka T), 33, and Duane Heath, (aka Cin), 19, were arraigned last week. Degraffenreid, of 2718 Marian Avenue, the Bronx, has been charged with Murder in the 1st degree, Murder in the 2nd degree, Manslaughter in the 1st degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree. Degraffenreid is facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if he is found guilty of Murder in the 1st degree. Heath, of 1344 Nelson Avenue, the Bronx, has been charged with Conspiracy in the 2nd degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree. Heath is facing a maximum sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment if he is found guilty of Conspiracy in the 2nd degree. Although it is alleged that Alan Brown actually fired the fatal gunshots, the law precluded charging him with first degree murder because he was only 17 years old at the time of the shooting.

It is alleged that Degraffenreid and another man who is still at large, paid Heath $2,000 to kill Hughes in order to resolve a turf dispute related to street level drug sales. Investigators said the “hit” was subcontracted to Brown who allegedly open fire on Hughes as he was driving on East 194th Street near Briggs Avenue in the Fordham section of the Bronx. Hughes lost control of the car which crashed and caused the death of Contrera, an innocent pedestrian.

The case of being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John O’Connell of the Major Case / Gang Prosecution Bureau.