On a tragic Friday evening in Brooklyn, New York, a dispute over the cost of car repairs escalated into a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 51-year-old Dexton Simpson. The incident occurred on September 29, 2017, at the Total Auto Care shop on East 98th Street in Canarsie, where Simpson, a hardworking car mechanic, was employed. The confrontation began when a customer, Richard Essor, a 35-year-old man from the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, demanded a refund from Simpson for repairs
done on his BMW.
Surveillance footage from the auto body shop captured the chilling moments that followed the initial argument. After Simpson informed Essor that he did not have the money to refund him, Essor left the premises, only to return a short time later armed with a semi-automatic pistol. The video shows Essor standing over Simpson, who was crouched down working on a vehicle. For more than 20 seconds, Essor held the gun over the unsuspecting mechanic before firing two shots into his chest. As Simpson attempted to flee, Essor fired a third and final shot, striking him in the back. Essor then calmly exited the shop and drove away.
The investigation into Dexton Simpson's murder moved swiftly. Authorities quickly identified Richard Essor as the prime suspect and issued a travel alert. Their prompt action led to his apprehension the very next morning at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Essor was taken into custody as he was attempting to board a flight to Jamaica and was found to be in possession of over $1,600 in cash at the time of his arrest.
Richard Essor was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. His trial took place in October of 2019, where a jury found him guilty on all counts. Following the conviction, a Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice sentenced Essor to 22 years to life in prison for the senseless killing of Dexton Simpson.
