On a Sunday morning, April 17, 2016, a violent encounter in White Plains, NY, claimed the life of 23-year-old Dominique Hospie. The male victim was on North Kensico Avenue at approximately 11:24 a.m. when he was ambushed and shot multiple times. The attack was swift and targeted. Hospie was rushed to Westchester Medical Center with gunshot wounds to his hand and back, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries during surgery.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a motive of revenge. Authorities identified two men, Aaron George, 21, and Michael Djukic, 20, as the primary suspects. The roots of the fatal confrontation traced back to a 2011 incident where Hospie had shot and wounded George. After serving nearly three years in prison for that crime, Hospie was released, but the past evidently was not forgotten. On that fateful April morning, Djukic drove George in a Chrysler Pacifica as they searched for Hospie. Upon locating him, George exited the vehicle, fired his handgun multiple times at Hospie, and then fled the scene with Djukic at the wheel.
The subsequent legal proceedings brought the full story to light. Aaron George was charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. His accomplice, Michael Djukic, faced several felony charges including criminal possession of a weapon, criminal facilitation, tampering with physical evidence, and hindering prosecution. Both men ultimately pleaded guilty to their involvement in the crime. In July 2017, Aaron George was sentenced to seventeen years to life in state prison. For his role, Michael Djukic received a maximum sentence of nine years in state prison.
