Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Queens man pleaded guilty today to murdering the driver of a vehicle he collided with in Baldwin in April 2023.
Patrick Destine, 27, pleaded guilty Tuesday before Judge Howard Sturim to Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (an E felony); and two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor). The defendant is due back in court on July 9, 2024, for sentencing. He is expected to be sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.
“In a sickening case of road rage fueled by alcohol, Patrick Destine violently attacked the victim David McKenzie after a late-night collision in Baldwin. The defendant kicked and stomped David repeatedly and left him bleeding in the street,” said DA Donnelly. “As David lay dying, the defendant also took his credit card and tried to flee the scene. Our thoughts remain with David’s family as his killer is brought to justice.”
DA Donnelly said that on April 15, 2023, at approximately 11:02 p.m., 54-year-old David McKenzie, the victim, was driving his 2003 Honda near Shuman Place and Forest Avenue in Baldwin when he collided with a 2004 Infiniti driven by Patrick Destine and carrying two passengers, including co-defendant Aisha Pitt, causing damage to both vehicles.
After the crash, the victim began to walk away from the crash site, and the defendant followed him. The defendant then began kicking and stomping on the victim’s head repeatedly.
The victim’s credit card and driver’s license were also taken.
When police arrived on scene, they found the victim on the ground bleeding from the head. He was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at approximately 12:06 a.m. on April 16, 2023.
Destine and Pitt were walking away from the scene of the crash when police arrived.
Both defendants were placed into custody by the Nassau County Police Department and transported to Nassau University Medical Center.
Pitt, 20, of Elmont, pleaded guilty on June 28, 2023, to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (an E felony) and was sentenced to six months in jail in August 2023.
Deputy Bureau Chief Daryl Levy of the Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case. Destine is represented by Scott Gross, Esq. Pitt is represented by Adam Neal, Esq.