Prior Violent Felony Offender Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter for 2023 New Year’s Eve Fatal Shooting
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Detrich Emanuel, 31, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, for fatally shooting Kristine Costantino, 40, of Middle Island, in her home on New Year’s Eve in 2023.
“After a minor verbal argument, this defendant shot Kristine Costantino, killing her in her own home,” said District Attorney Tierney. “While this plea cannot undo the immense pain caused to the victim’s family and loved ones, we hope it spares them from the additional trauma of a trial and keeps this defendant from hurting anyone else in the community.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on December 31, 2023, at approximately 11:24 a.m., five individuals, including Emanuel and the victim, were at the victim’s apartment in Middle Island. Emanuel, and the victim became engaged in a tense verbal exchange with each other. Emanuel then pulled out a firearm, pointed it at the victim’s chest, and shot her. Emanuel called 911 to report the incident but then fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
When police arrived to render aid, Constantino repeatedly said Emanuel’s name. Constantino was later pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital. On January 14, 2024, Emanuel was arrested in the Bronx.
In July 2018, prior to his arrest in this case, Emanuel was convicted in Queens County of Attempted Burglary in the Second-Degree.
On August 20, 2024, Emanuel pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins. Emanuel is due back in court on October 10, 2024, and he is expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He is being represented by Matt Tuohy, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective James Hughes of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.