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Jamaica man convicted in shooting death of newlywed during 2011 robbery

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A 23-year-old Jamaica man was found guilty this week for his role in the deadly shooting and robbery of a young woman as she was walking home with her new husband in Hollis four years ago, prosecutors said.

Rohan R. Hankerson was convicted Wednesday of one count of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and eight counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.

According to trial testimony, Rabia Mohammed, 23, and her husband of five months were walking on 204th Street near 93rd Avenue just after 8:30 p.m. on March 13, 2011, when Hankerson’s alleged accomplices — Ian R. Green, Tiyquon Hodges and Corey Brown — came up behind the couple.

Two of those men allegedly threw Mohammed’s husband to the ground and one said to her, “Give me the bag.” Brown struggled with the woman for her purse, and when she screamed Green pulled out a gun and fatally shot her in the chest. Hankerson was the getaway driver for the group, according to prosecutors.

In May 2013, Green, 21, of Queens, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree manslaughter, four counts of first-degree robbery (for his involvement in four other robberies that occurred between March 4, 2011, and March 17, 2011) and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree manslaughter, according to the district attorney’s office. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Brown, 21, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in March 2014 and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Hodges, 20, of Jamaica, is currently awaiting trial on second-degree murder and other charges for his alleged involvement in the shooting incident.

Hankerson’s sentencing is set for May 6. He faces up to 49 years to life in prison.

“His actions have caused a great deal of pain and inconsolable loss to the victim’s husband and family,” District Attorney Richard Brown said. “ As such, the imposition of a lengthy prison sentence is more than warranted.”

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