Williamsburg

Bushwick carjacker gets 33 to life for murder of sheet metal worker

August 31, 2017 By Paul Frangipane Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Bryan Aponte remains straight faced after he is sentenced to 33 years to life in prison by Supreme Court Justice Neil Firetog. Eagle photos by Paul Frangipane.
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A 22-year-old Bushwick man was sentenced to 33 years to life in prison Wednesday for murdering a sheet metal worker and shooting two others, including a 13-year-old girl.

Bryan Aponte remained straight-faced throughout his sentencing at Brooklyn Supreme Court as family members of his killed victim, Michael Matusiak, collected in the court room.

“We cannot see that time will play the part of healer,” Santos Lebron, Matusiak’s brother-in-law, said in court. “Mike to us was one of those people you always expect to be around.”

Aponte was found guilty by a jury of murder, attempted murder, gun possession and assault when a day of carjacking turned deadly on Oct. 6, 2016.

Matusiak and his coworker, Derrick Robinson, 59, caught Aponte with two others trying to steal his car near Knickerbocker Avenue and Grattan Street in East Williamsburg. When Matusiak approached the trio, Aponte fired his weapon five times, killing Matusiak and injuring Robinson and a 13-year-old girl that was heading to school, according to court documents.

Assistant District Attorney Howard Jackson said in court that evidence showed spectators ran after the first shot.

“Why the need then for the second shot, or the third, or the fourth, or the fifth?” Jackson asked.

Both Aponte’s family and the victims’ family filled Supreme Court Justice Neil Firetog’s courtroom.

“Mr. Aponte is remorseful for what happened in this case,” defense lawyer Harold Baker said.

When Aponte declined to make a statement, Firetog raised his eyebrows.

“I don’t see any remorse shown by Mr. Aponte,” Firetog said before swiftly dealing the 33-year sentence, welcomed by sobs from the Aponte family.

Robinson and the girl were treated and released from Elmhurst Hospital.

Aponte was arrested three weeks after the crime when his grandparents called the police for him to surrender.

Lebron said Matusiak was on his second day at the job at ABNY.

Aponte’s accomplice, Ryan Cruzado, pleaded guilty Thursday to aiding in the crime by swapping clothes with Aponte as a diversion (see sidebar).

Cruzado is expected to be sentenced to six months in prison and five years’ probation on Oct. 20.

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