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Omarrio Morrison was found guilty of: murder in the second degree; attempted robbery in the first degree; two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; and, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, in connection with the shooting death of Raul Diaz-Martinez during the course of an attempted robbery on June 21, 2017, in the City of Newburgh.
Morrison faces 25 years to life in prison, on the murder charge when he is sentenced by Orange County Court Judge William DeProspo on July 18.
During the trial prosecutors argued that Morrison had planned a robbery of the victim while the victim was in his apartment on Chambers Street in the City of Newburgh.
Prosecutors also argued that Morrison recruited Dejoire Fox, 21, and Tyrees Canigan 17, to commit the actual robbery and had supplied each with pistols. Both Fox and Canigan have previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Prosecutors argued that Fox entered the victim’s apartment to commit the robbery while being armed with a pistol and shot the victim, who later died of a gunshot wound. Canigan was the lookout for the robbery.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation of the case and the defendants’ apprehension.
“The jury’s verdict was clearly supported by the evidence,” said District Attorney David Hoovler. “This defendant planned the robbery and then recruited others to carry it out. His cowardly attempt to insulate himself from criminal liability failed. All those who are involved in violence and the use of weapons must be held accountable for their actions.
"I commend the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation of this case. My office will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to reduce the deadly gun violence which has claimed far too many lives.”
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