Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced today to 40 years to life in prison for the murder of a 21-year-old man during a Massapequa house party on the Fourth of July in 2020.
Thomas Massenburg, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was convicted on September 26, 2024, after a jury trial before Judge Howard Sturim of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony).
The defendant was sentenced today to 40 years to life in prison.
“The Fourth of July should be a day of celebration, but this defendant turned a backyard party into a violent and tragic scene when he shot at multiple party goers and killed a 21-year-old man,” said DA Donnelly. “Thomas Massenburg now faces the consequences for his devastating choices that night, and his sentence today ensures that he will no longer pose a threat to our communities.”
DA Donnelly said that, on July 4, 2020, Massenburg and other alleged members of the Mac Baller Bloods from Brooklyn attended a Fourth of July party on West Drive in Massapequa.
Rashawn Cummings, a friend of another defendant, Learyk Jarvis, came to the party later and a physical altercation ensued between the two groups in the basement of the home.
Jarvis allegedly waved a gun in the air and told everyone to leave the house.
During the altercation, at approximately 11:15 p.m., Massenburg obtained a loaded gun from Quran Blue, another Mac Baller Blood from Brooklyn, and a friend of the defendant, and shot Cummings once in the leg and once in the back. Massenburg also shot another man once in the arm and twice in the buttocks. That man survived.
Jarvis then allegedly shot Massenburg in the groin.
Cummings was pronounced deceased at the scene.
After the shooting, Massenburg passed the gun to Blue, who went outside and fired an additional five shots from the weapon.
Massenburg was arrested on June 3, 2021, by members of the Nassau County Police Department.
Jarvis was arrested by members of the NCPD on June 17, 2021.
Jarvis was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and was sentenced on April 13, 2023, to 3-1/2 years in prison and five years’ post release supervision.
Blue was arrested on March 3, 2022, and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. He was sentenced on June 8, 2023, to 3-1/2 years in prison and five years’ post release supervision.
Senior Litigation Counsel Stefanie Palma of the Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jared Rosenblatt and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. Massenburg is represented by Sam Karliner Esq. and Mitchell Ellman, Esq. Jarvis was represented by Steven Gaitman, Esq. Blue was represented by David Adhami, Esq.