On an August evening in 2023, a party on Ocean Avenue in Valley Stream, New York, turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 20-year-old DeAndre Carter. The young man, who dreamed of a career in criminal justice, was attending a party on August 21st when gunfire erupted outside the venue. Carter was struck in the chest by a bullet that pierced his heart and lung, and he later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Three other people, including a 12-year-old, were also wounded in the shooting but survived.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a premeditated attack rooted in gang rivalry. The party was reportedly attended by individuals associated with the Crips street gang. The suspects, identified as Kyle Matthews and Isaiah Gonzalez, were alleged members of the rival Bloods gang. Authorities believe they specifically targeted the partygoers, firing at least eight shots into the crowd from two different. 380 caliber pistols. Surveillance footage played a crucial role in the investigation, showing Matthews and Gonzalez arriving in a Mercedes-Benz and approaching the venue shortly before the shooting.
In the weeks following the deadly shooting, both suspects were apprehended. Kyle Matthews was arrested in Far Rockaway on September 6, 2023, and Isaiah Gonzalez was taken into custody in Manhattan two days later. A third individual, Kenny Greene, was also arrested and charged with conspiracy in connection to the incident. All three men faced legal proceedings for their alleged roles in the death of DeAndre Carter.
The trial for Matthews and Gonzalez began in March 2025. After a day of deliberation, a jury found both men guilty of second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on April 10, 2025. Kenny Greene was acquitted of his conspiracy charge. In May 2025, Kyle Matthews and Isaiah Gonzalez were each sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the murder of DeAndre Carter, bringing a measure of justice to a case that had tragically cut short a young man's promising future.
