Clock ticking for pair accused of slaying ex-Golden Gloves boxer on Staten Island - silive.com

2022-09-04 13:48:15 By : Ms. Betty Zhao

Grashino Yancy ( in gold) of Atlas Cops N Kids celebrates his TKO win over Elvis Pinzon of Newburgh Hook Elite in the Annual Atlas Foundation/NY Daily News Golden Gloves boxing show at Petrides High School Friday, March 14, 2014.(Staten Island Advance/ Bill Lyons) Staff-ShotStaff-Shot

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — While most people will flock to the beach or enjoy summer-ending cookouts this Labor Day weekend, the two men accused of slaying a former boxer two years ago will be sitting in their jail cells, thinking.

Come Tuesday, Tequan Moncrieft, 31, and Tyler McCrimmon, 32, who are charged with gunning down Grashino Yancy, 32, on July 26, 2020, in Clifton, must decide whether to accept prosecutors’ plea offer or take their chances at trial.

Justice Alexander Jeong told the defendants at a conference on Thursday he will begin jury selection in their murder trial on Sept. 13 if the case isn’t resolved on Tuesday, the next court date.

Moncrieft, of Stapleton, was offered a 15-year prison sentence in exchange for a plea to first-degree manslaughter.

McCrimmon’s offer was a sentence of 66 months to 11 years for guilty pleas to two class “D” felony charges.

If convicted at trial of a felony weapon charge, McCrimmon, whose last name also appears as “McCrimon” in public records, could face a life sentence due to his criminal record, it was stated in court.

A Manhattan resident, McCrimmon has previously served two prison sentences for attempted criminal weapon possession, in 2012 and 2015, according to online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The plea offer is contingent on both defendants accepting it.

Moncrieft and McCrimmon are accused of murder, manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment, criminal weapon possession and criminal firearm possession.

The defendants face up to 25 years to life if convicted of second-degree murder.

Authorities have not publicly commented on a possible motive.

Moncrieft and McCrimmon did not address the court during the conference in state Supreme Court, St. George.

Mario F. Gallucci and Michael Cirigliano, their respective lawyers, told Jeong they plan to discuss the plea offers and the evidence with the defendants in the ensuing days.

Prosecutors said Yancy, a former Daily News Golden Gloves competitor, was killed at a crowded barbecue. Over 200 people attended, according to police, and friends and family of the victim, a South Beach resident.

Police said officers responded at about 12:40 a.m. to a 911 call for a male shot in the rear of 260 Park Hill Ave.

Cops found Yancy with a gunshot wound to the right leg. The victim was transported by EMS to Staten Island University in Ocean Breeze where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Yancy had recently returned to New York from Minnesota where was working in construction, Pat Russo, a retired cop and boxing program director in the borough, previously told the Advance/SILive.com.

Russo used to work in the ring with Yancy.

“He was a good fighter, but he was also a good person,” Russo said.

The defendants were arrested more than three months after the shooting — McCrimmon on Nov. 2; Moncrieft on Nov. 10.

Detectives tracked Moncrieft down in North Carolina, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Outside court, Gallucci, Moncrieft’s lawyer, said his client maintains his innocence.

“Mr. Moncrieft has denied his guilt and gang association since his arrest,” said Gallucci. “Just because an individual is raised on the North Shore of Staten Island does not imply they are a gang member. He looks forward to his trial and clearing his otherwise good character in the community.”

Cirigliano, McCrimmon’s attorney, declined comment.

Yancy’s friends and family have mourned his loss.

“To hear of a humble man as Grashino Yancy dying is very disturbing to me,” one person wrote on Facebook after the shooting. “He did not deserve that.”

Yancy grew within the Island’s Atlas Cops & Kids Boxing Club program.

Russo said the Clifton native felt a desire to give back.

“As he went on in age, he became one of our coaches there, one of the mentors,” Russo said, “because he appreciated what the gym did for him, and he became a coach.”

“His life mattered,” said Russo.

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