A Hempstead man has been sentenced to 17 years to life in prison for his involvement in the murder of a 24-year-old man during an attempted robbery in Uniondale in November 2021.
On the night of November 10, 2021, Khamari Elie, along with co-defendants Kyle Colthirst, Tariq Pitaud, and Tyrel Cason Jr., planned to rob Kyle Midtlyng. Pitaud had lured Midtlyng to 1001 Alexander Avenue, pretending to be interested in purchasing marijuana, which he arranged through text messages.
Elie drove the group to the location, where Colthirst and Cason Jr. confronted Midtlyng. Colthirst entered the victim’s vehicle, and during the robbery attempt, he shot Midtlyng in the right side, striking both his lungs and aorta. Colthirst then fled the scene on foot.
Nassau County police responded to a 911 call and found Midtlyng lying outside his vehicle. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators found a shell casing in the vehicle and blood drops matching Colthirst’s DNA on the nearby sidewalk.
Additionally, Colthirst, 20, was wearing an Electronic Monitoring device at the time of the crime, and GPS data placed him at the scene.
He was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on April 2, 2024, for second-degree murder, attempted first-degree robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Pitaud, 21, was sentenced to 17 years in prison on November 1, 2024, after being convicted of attempted first-degree robbery and criminal possession of a weapon.
Elie, 20, pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024, to second-degree murder, attempted first-degree robbery, and several weapons-related charges.
He was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison on December 11, 2024, after admitting his role in the incident. The Nassau County District Attorney’s office had recommended a sentence of 20 years to life.
The case against co-defendant Cason Jr., 22, remains pending. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating, “While Mr. Elie did not pull the trigger, today’s sentence reflects the gravity of his participation in Kyle Midtlyng’s tragic death.
This case sends a strong message that those involved in violent crimes will face severe consequences.”