In the early morning hours of November 25, 2019, a tragic event unfolded on Burnett Street in Hempstead, New York, that would cut short the life of Jose Leonardo Sanchez, a 33-year-old male. The stillness of the night was shattered at approximately 2:25 a.m. by the sound of a gunshot, prompting a response from Hempstead Village police officers who were alerted by a ShotSpotter notification. Upon their arrival, they discovered Mr.
Sanchez lying on the ground, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead.
For several months, the case remained unsolved, leaving a community searching for answers. The Nassau County Police Homicide Squad appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of those responsible for Mr. Sanchez's death. The breakthrough in the investigation came in February 2020, with the arrests of two men. Investigators determined that the motive behind the senseless act of violence was a robbery gone wrong. Mr. Sanchez had been asleep in his car when he was targeted in what police described as a crime of opportunity.
The suspects were identified as Kadeem Lewis, 26, of Hempstead, and Richard Ford, 33, who was listed as homeless. According to authorities, the two men came across Mr. Sanchez and, believing he was an easy target, attempted to rob him. When Mr. Sanchez resisted, he was shot once by Lewis. The assailants then fled with his two cellphones. Lewis, who was on parole for a prior robbery conviction, was apprehended in Schenectady, while Ford was arrested in Hempstead. Both men were subsequently charged with second-degree murder. Lewis faced an additional charge for a parole violation. They were arraigned at the First District Court in Hempstead to face the consequences of their alleged actions.
