LI Man Found Guilty Of Weapon, Drug Possession After Shooting: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Riverhead man was found guilty by a jury Friday after a shooting that took place while he was on parole for another crime, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to Tierney, Messiah Booker, also known as Matthew Booker, 38, was found guilty for a May 2022 shooting that occurred while Booker had been on parole release from prison for a separate felony.

The evidence at trial established that on May 20, 2022, at about 3:50 p.m., Booker got
into a verbal dispute with a teenager in the parking lot area of an apartment complex in downtown
Riverhead, the DA said.

As the argument escalated, Booker threatened to shoot the teen, and then briefly entered his black Jeep Compass before returning with a loaded gun in a fanny pack, Tierney said. Booker then began to pull the gun from the fanny pack, causing the teen to flee for his life, the DA said.

The teen's family arrived at the apartment complex shortly thereafter, and Booker began to argue with them, the DA said.

During the argument, a large crowd gathered in front of the building; Booker went back to his Jeep, retrieved the same loaded firearm from earlier, and shot at one of the people in the crowd, the DA said.

The bullet ricocheted off the ground and struck another person in the forearm, the DA said.

Booker then fled the scene on foot, he added.

Riverhead Town police officers responded and located a 9 mm shell casing from the shooting, Tierney said.

Booker’s Jeep Compass, which was still at the scene, was impounded and a search of its contents was conducted pursuant to a search warrant, the DA said.

During the search, law enforcement recovered drugs including cocaine and morphine, more than $1,000 in small denomination bills, four cellular phones, walkie-talkies, a bullet proof tactical vest, 9 mm ammunition, digital scales typically used to weigh narcotics, and drug packaging material including glassine envelopes, the DA said.

Law enforcement tracked Booker’s movements with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, and he was apprehended days later and placed under arrest, Tierney said.

In 2006, Booker was convicted of third-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm, a felony, and sentenced to three years in prison, Tierney said. In 2017, Booker was convicted of second-degree attempted burglary, a felony, and was sentenced to five years in prison, the DA said.

At the time that the shooting occurred, Booker had been released from prison and was out on parole for the attempted burglary conviction, he added.

On January 26, 2024, Booker was convicted after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, on the following charges, Tierney said:

- Two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, violent felonies;

- Two counts of fifth -degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell, felonies;

- Two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanors;

- One count of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor; and

- One count of second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor.

After the verdict, Justice Senft remanded Booker into custody; Booker is due back in court for
sentencing on February 27, and faces a minimum of 16 years with a maximum of life in
prison, Tierney said. He is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"This defendant, a convicted felon on parole, pulled a loaded gun on a teenager, endangering his life, and then later fired that same gun outside of a crowded apartment complex, striking another person in the arm," said Tierney. "Thanks to the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners, today’s verdict is another step forward in holding perpetrators of violence in Suffolk County accountable."