Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that an alleged Bloods gang members pleaded guilty to the murder of a 21-year-old man in Freeport and attempted murder of another surviving victim in November 2020, and separately, to attempted murder and weapons charges for shooting at four police officers during a car chase in December 2020.
Christopher Anderson a/k/a/ CK, 27, of Roosevelt, pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge Howard Sturim to Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony) and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony) for a shooting on November 28, 2020, at Martin Luther King Park in Freeport. He also pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the First Degree (an A-I felony) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony) in satisfaction of the indictment for shooting at four police officers on December 29, 2020. The defendant is due back in court for sentencing on August 30, 2023. Anderson is expected to be sentenced to 22 years to life in prison.
“Christopher Anderson callously opened fired on Taffarie Haughton and another teenage victim in the middle of the afternoon in Martin Luther King Park because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time during a Bloods gang meeting,” said DA Donnelly. “Just a month later, almost to the day, the defendant led Hempstead Police detectives on a high-speed pursuit through the streets of Roosevelt. The chase ended in a hail of gunfire and Anderson fled the scene. Thankfully the officers were unharmed, but Taffarie sadly lost his life because of this defendant’s wanton violence. We will continue to stamp out gang violence in our communities so that no more innocent lives are lost.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, on November 28, 2020, 21-year-old Taffarie Haughton and a second 19-year-old victim were at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Freeport. The victims entered the park bathroom and were allegedly followed by several Bloods gang members who were attending a gang meeting in the park.
When Haughton and the other victim attempted to leave the park, the exit was allegedly blocked by numerous members of the gang, including the defendant. Anderson and his co-defendant, Floyd McNeil, then allegedly began firing on the victims, striking them both.
Haughton was struck twice, once in the chest, piercing his lung and heart, and once in the left foot. He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
The other victim was struck once in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
Seven shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Anderson and McNeil were both arrested on June 13, 2022, by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
Floyd McNeil, a/k/a DOT and Diddy DOT, 27, of Hempstead was charged with Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Attempted Assault in the First Degree (a C violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony).
The case again McNeil is pending. McNeil faces up to 50 years to life in prison if convicted.
McNeil is currently serving a sentence of 25 years after being convicted at trial in June 2022 of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony); Criminal Use of a Firearm (a B violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony) for another September 2019 shooting in Hempstead.
In a separate incident, on December 29, 2020, at approximately 8:14 p.m., four Hempstead Police Detectives pursued Anderson’s vehicle with lights and sirens activated for approximately one and a half miles through Roosevelt as he weaved in and out of traffic and drove at high rates of speed.
Anderson pulled into a driveway near Pennywood Avenue and tried to exit the vehicle as officers approached within feet of the defendant.
The defendant then fired three shots in the officers’ direction and missed. Officers returned fire and Anderson fled the scene unharmed. He was arrested on December 30, 2020.
The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Michelle Lewisohn and Senior Litigation Counsel Ania Pulaski of the Homicide Bureau. Anderson is represented by Michael Elbert, Esq. McNeil is represented by Don Rollock, Esq.
The charges against McNeil are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.