Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Queens man was sentenced today to 18 years to life in prison for murdering the driver of a vehicle he collided with in Baldwin in April 2023.
Patrick Destine, 28, pleaded guilty on May 7, 2024, before Judge Howard Sturim to Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (an E felony); and two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor).
The defendant was sentenced today to 18 years to life in prison.
“Patrick Destine brutally kicked and stomped on David McKenzie’s head following a late-night collision between their vehicles in Baldwin,” said DA Donnelly. “This alcohol-fueled rampage cost David his life and ultimately condemned the defendant to a future behind bars. Today, Destine is held accountable for his gratuitous and senseless violence that night. Our thoughts remain with David’s many family members and friends who continue to mourn.”
DA Donnelly said that on April 15, 2023, at approximately 11:02 p.m., Destine was driving a 2004 Infiniti and carrying two passengers, including co-defendant Aisha Pitt, when he collided with a 2003 Honda driven by 54-year-old David McKenzie near Shuman Place and Forest Avenue in Baldwin.
McKenzie walked away from the crash and Destine followed him. Destine then kicked and stomped on McKenzie’s head repeatedly. After the beating, McKenzie’s credit card and driver’s license were also taken.
When police arrived on scene, they found McKenzie on the ground bleeding from the head. He was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:06 a.m. on April 16, 2023.
Destine and Pitt were seen walking away from the scene of the crash when police arrived. Both defendants were placed into custody by members of the Nassau County Police Department and transported to Nassau University Medical Center.
Pitt, 20, of Elmont, pleaded guilty on June 28, 2023, to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (an E felony) and was sentenced to six months in jail in August 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Daryl Levy of the Homicide Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jared Rosenblatt and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. Destine is represented by Scott Gross, Esq. Pitt is represented by Adam Neal, Esq.