Georgia man gets 25 years for murder outside East Flatbush funeral

November 29, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Eagle

Fritz Celestine was sentenced to 25 years to life on Thursday after he was convicted of murder and criminal possession of a weapon stemming from a double homicide outside of a Brooklyn funeral in 2015. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn DA’s Office

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A 43-year-old man from Georgia will spend at least the next 25 years of his life behind bars after he was sentenced on Thursday for a double homicide that occurred outside of a Brooklyn funeral in 2015.

Fritz Celestine of Marietta, Georgia, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on Oct. 11 after a jury trial in front of Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser.

“It is outrageous that a gunfight erupted as mourners were paying their respects to a lost loved one,” said District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “Two lives were lost and several other people were injured after the defendant and others fired upon a group of people attending a funeral. With today’s sentence, the defendant has been held accountable.”

According to the DA’s Office, on April 27, 2015, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Celestine, co-defendant Pierre Celestine and a third individual who has not been apprehended opened fire outside of the Emmanuel Church of God at 1365 Flatbush Ave. following an altercation where Celestine was punched.

One person fired back at the trio and Sharieff Clayton and Ronald Murphy were shot and killed, according to prosecutors. Four other people were injured in the crossfire including the defendant and three bystanders.

Pierre Celestine is still awaiting trial.