Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that an alleged Bloods gang member was sentenced Wednesday to 22 years to life in prison for the murder of a 21-year-old man and attempted murder of another individual in November 2020, and in a separate incident, attempted murder for shooting at officers during a vehicle pursuit in December 2020.
Christopher Anderson a/k/a/ CK, 27, of Roosevelt, pleaded guilty in June 2023 before Judge Howard Sturim to Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony) and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony) for a shooting on November 28, 2020, at Martin Luther King Park in Freeport. He also pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the First Degree (an A-I felony) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony) in satisfaction of the indictment for shooting at four police officers on December 29, 2020. Anderson was sentenced yesterday to 22 years to life in prison.
“Christopher Anderson did not know Taffarie Haughton or the other teenage victim he shot at repeatedly at Martin Luther King Park in November 2020. He just knew that they had interrupted a gang meeting, and that was enough to unleash deadly violence on them,” said DA Donnelly. “Anderson’s crime spree did not end after the shooting, and a month later he led police officers on a high-speed chase in Roosevelt that ended in more gunfire. Christopher Anderson is an incredibly dangerous individual. Today’s sentence ensures that he will no longer threaten our communities.”
DA Donnelly said that on November 28, 2020, 21-year-old Taffarie Haughton and a second 19-year-old victim were at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Freeport. The victims entered the park bathroom and were followed by several Bloods gang members who were attending a gang meeting in the park.
When Haughton and the other victim attempted to leave the park, the exit was blocked by numerous members of the gang, including the defendant. Anderson and his co-defendant, Floyd McNeil, then allegedly began firing on the victims, striking them both.
Haughton was struck twice, once in the chest, piercing his lung and heart, and once in the left foot. He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
The other victim was struck once in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
Seven shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Anderson and McNeil were both arrested on June 13, 2022, by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
Floyd McNeil, a/k/a DOT and Diddy DOT, 27, of Hempstead, was charged with Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Attempted Assault in the First Degree (a C violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony).
The case again McNeil is pending. That defendant faces up to 50 years to life in prison if convicted.
McNeil is currently serving a sentence of 25 years after being convicted at trial in June 2022 of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony); Criminal Use of a Firearm (a B violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony) for a September 2019 shooting in Hempstead.
In a separate incident, on December 29, 2020, at approximately 8:14 p.m., four Hempstead Police Detectives pursued Anderson’s vehicle with lights and sirens activated for approximately one and a half miles through Roosevelt as he weaved in and out of traffic and drove at high rates of speed.
Anderson pulled into a driveway near Pennywood Avenue and tried to exit the vehicle as officers approached within feet of the defendant.
The defendant then fired two shots in the officers’ direction and missed. Officers returned fire and Anderson fled the scene unharmed. He was arrested on December 30, 2020.
The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Michelle Lewisohn and Senior Litigation Counsel Ania Pulaski of the Homicide Bureau. Anderson is represented by Michael Elbert, Esq. McNeil is represented by Don Rollock, Esq.
The charges against McNeil are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.