A Fourth of July celebration in a quiet Massapequa neighborhood tragically turned into a scene of violence and loss, leaving a young man dead. RaShawn Cummings, a 21-year-old male from Hempstead, was shot and killed on July 4, 2020, during a house party on West Drive. The festive gathering descended into chaos when a dispute escalated into gunfire, forever altering the lives of those present.
The evening's festivities took a dark turn when a physical altercation broke out in the basement of the home between two groups of attendees. One group included RaShawn Cummings and his friend, Learyk Jarvis. The other group was comprised of Thomas Massenburg and other alleged members of the Mac Baller Bloods from Brooklyn. In the midst of the escalating conflict, Jarvis reportedly brandished a weapon and instructed everyone to leave the residence.
Shortly after being told to leave, Thomas Massenburg obtained a loaded gun from an associate, Quran Blue. Instead of departing, Massenburg returned to the basement and opened fire. Cummings was struck twice, once in the leg and once in the back, injuries that proved to be fatal. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was also shot multiple times but survived his injuries. In the ensuing mayhem, Massenburg himself was shot in the groin by Learyk Jarvis. Following the initial shooting, Massenburg passed the weapon to Blue, who then went outside and fired several more shots.
In the aftermath of the shooting, an investigation was launched by the Nassau County Police Department. Their efforts led to the arrest of Thomas Massenburg on June 3, 2021. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, and assault. Learyk Jarvis was also arrested on June 17, 2021, on weapons possession charges. Quran Blue was later arrested on March 3, 2022, and also faced a weapon possession charge.
The legal process culminated in the conviction of Thomas Massenburg in September 2024 for the murder of RaShawn Cummings. A jury found him guilty of murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, and assault in the first degree, along with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. For his crimes, Massenburg was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. Learyk Jarvis was sentenced to 3-1/2 years in prison for his role in the events of that night, and Quran Blue also received a sentence of 3-1/2 years in prison for criminal possession of a weapon.
