In the early hours of a Monday morning in March 2017, a dispute that began over money tragically escalated, ending the life of 35-year-old Shaleek Jenkins of Hempstead, New York. Jenkins, a male U.S. Army veteran who served three tours in Iraq, was fatally shot outside Sonny O's Pub on West Merrick Road in Valley Stream. The incident unfolded around 4:05 a.m. on March 13, 2017, when a physical altercation turned deadly.
Jenkins was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:10 a.m.
The investigation into the shooting led police to two brothers, Mickey and Christopher Corley. Authorities alleged that the motive stemmed from a disagreement over a significant sum of cash that had been stolen. The Corley brothers reportedly believed Jenkins and his friends had knowledge of the theft. On the morning of the shooting, the simmering tensions boiled over when the brothers encountered Jenkins outside the bar. A physical fight ensued between Mickey Corley and Shaleek Jenkins, during which Mickey allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Jenkins in the chest and neck.
Following an investigation, Mickey Corley, then 37, and his brother Christopher Corley, then 40, were arrested in Nyack, New York, without incident. Mickey Corley was charged with second-degree murder for his alleged role as the gunman. His brother, Christopher Corley, was charged with hindering prosecution, accused of driving his brother away from the scene of the crime to help him evade capture. At their arraignment, both brothers pleaded not guilty. Mickey Corley was ordered to be held without bail, while Christopher Corley's bail was set at $75,000. The case then proceeded through the court system.
