On a Christmas night in 1990 that was meant for holiday cheer, a senseless act of violence cut short the life of 15-year-old Tremain Hall. The male teenager was not in Hempstead, but rather at the Sunrise Multiplex in the nearby town of Valley Stream, New York, for a showing of 'The Godfather Part III.' An argument that erupted between two groups of young men escalated into a chaotic shootout inside the crowded theater.
In the ensuing gunfire, with more than two dozen shots fired, Tremain Hall was tragically struck and killed.
The young man responsible for the fatal shot was 17-year-old Lawrence Bartley. Two days after the incident, Bartley was arrested. He would later be convicted of second-degree murder and other charges, ultimately receiving a sentence of 27 years to life in prison for his actions that night. The shooting also resulted in injuries to three other moviegoers, forever altering the lives of all involved. The incident so shocked the community that the theater subsequently installed metal detectors in an effort to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
After serving 27 years behind bars, a period during which he earned bachelor's and master's degrees, Lawrence Bartley was granted parole in April 2018. In the years following his release, Bartley has expressed remorse for taking a life and has become involved in anti-gun violence initiatives. The family of Tremain Hall, however, has expressed that no amount of remorse or good deeds can bring back their son, and the pain of their loss remains.
