By Ivan Pereira
A reputed Jamaica Bloods member was convicted last week of gunning down an innocent woman who was caught in the crossfire during a violent argument with a rival gang, the Queens district attorney said.
Nigel “News” Vasser, 23, of 164th Street faces 25 years to life in prison on his scheduled sentencing date June 23, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Vasser was found guilty of second-degree murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges June 9 in the death of Melissa Williams, who was standing in the way of the Bloods member while he was taking aim at a Crips member, according to Brown.
“I hope that the victim’s family finds some closure in knowing that the person responsible for shooting their loved one has now been held accountable for his actions and will probably spend the rest of his natural life in prison,” he said in a statement.
The incident took place April 23, 2009, at the Hammels Houses in Far Rockaway, Brown said. Around 7:20 p.m., Vasser fired a handgun at Derrell “Buddha” Daniels, an alleged member of the Crips gang, but none of the bullets hit the man, according to the DA.
Instead, the shots hit Williams, 28, in the head and she was rushed to a nearby hospital, according to Brown. The woman was on life support for more than a week before she ultimately succumbed to her injuries, the DA said.
Vasser was immediately arrested by investigators and charged in her death. It took the jury only three hours to convict the Bloods member, according to the DA.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
