Gang member, 22, sentenced to 76 years to life for Brownsville shooting

April 24, 2017 By Paul Frangipane Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Mugshot of Antonio Mahon, sentenced to 76 years to life in prison. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn DA’s Office

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A Bloods gang member was sentenced to 76 years to life in prison on Monday for shooting two security officers, killing one and paralyzing the other, in front of a housing complex in Brownsville.

Antonio Mahon, 22, was convicted of second-degree murder, attempted murder, burglary and other charges at Brooklyn Supreme Court on April 4.

“This is a very sad case,” Judge ShawnDya Simpson said to a packed courtroom. “Three men’s lives were ruined, and two really good men’s lives were ruined.”

Simpson said she has never given a sentence as large as this.

Mahon, of Queens, stood stone-faced during the entire sentencing while the family of Aaron Locklear, 30, the security guard he killed, sat behind him. Locklear’s mother stood up in front of the courtroom and directed a speech at Mahon.

“I forgive you, but I’ll never forget,” she said. “I’m praying for you.”

Mahon also shot and paralyzed James Merced, 28, Locklear’s partner. Merced rolled into the courtroom in a wheelchair on March 27 to testify, starring at Mahon the majority of his time on the witness stand. Merced and Locklear were shot by Mahon on the morning of Nov. 28, 2014 near Rockaway Avenue and Livonia Avenue in Brownsville in the middle of the street.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick O’Connor made his case on justifying the sentencing, saying that Mahon has been convicted of three assaults on prison staff since he was arrested on Jan. 9, 2015. “He is a threat to the community and should be removed from the community,” O’Connor said.

Judge Simpson denied a request by DA Michael Scheinberg to adjourn the sentencing that was originally scheduled for April 21.

“You’re 22 years old,” Simpson said to Mahon. “You have ruined your life. You need to get on your knees and pray and ask for forgiveness.”

Simpson said that she received a call from the Department of Correction asking for a protection order from Mahon.

There were eight court officers in the room during the sentencing.

Mahon will return to Brooklyn Supreme Court on May 25 to argue charges of grand larceny, gun possession and bail jumping. The original date was set for May 24, but he has a court case scheduled in the Bronx that day.

“The victims in this case were two innocent young men simply doing their jobs who got caught in the cross-hairs of gang-related violence,” said Acting Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez in a statement. “Today’s lengthy sentence is well-deserved and necessary to protect the residents of Brooklyn.”

This story is in collaboration with the Brooklyn News Service.