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Sunset Park man sentenced to 15 years to life for fatal shooting

Man dropped off victim at this home, then returned hours later and shot him

August 17, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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On Wednesday, a Sunset Park man was sentenced for fatally shooting a man twice in the face. Sam Chen, 44, was given 15 years’ to life imprisonment after a hearing presided over by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice.

Chen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on June 9, 2022.

According to the investigation and trial, on June 26, 2019, around 8 a.m., Chen was captured on video driving a Nissan NV3 on 51st street near 7th Ave. in Sunset Park. The victim, who was identified as Dal Li, 46, got out of the car with Chen and entered the hotel. Chen was seen on camera footage leaving the hotel wearing a surgical mask shortly afterward.

At around 12:45 p.m., Chen was seen returning to the hotel and leaving once again. He was wearing the surgical mask.

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Li’s body was recovered days later inside the hotel room, with two gunshot wounds to the forehead. Two 9mm shells were found at the scene.

Through a warranted search, law enforcement found a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a loaded magazine inside of a black plastic bag inside of Chen’s car.  The firearm matched ballistic evidence in the hotel room.

District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “This defendant executed the victim in cold blood, shooting him at close range as he slept in his bed. Thanks to the quick action of law-enforcement he was apprehended as he attempted to flee the state, and this sentence ensures that he is held accountable for this shocking and heartless murder.”

Chen was apprehended at JFK Airport on July 3 as he was boarding a flight to California.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Chow Yun Xie, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Stephanie D. Quon, of the District Attorney’s Orange Zone Trial Bureau, under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.


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