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Suffolk County Police arrested Nicholas D'Agostino, age 20, of Yonkers on Thursday, May 18 for allegedly shooting Suffolk County resident Yusef Staine, of West Babylon, also 20 years old, to death on the train on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at approximately 1:45 a.m.
He was indicted on Friday, May 19, and charged with:
- Second-degree murder, a Class A felony;
- Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C violent felony.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said D'Agostino allegedly "executed someone who considered him a friend.
"This defendant thought he could get away with it because he was wearing a mask and then fled Suffolk County, but he was clearly wrong.
“Due to the great investigative work done by our Suffolk County prosecutors, investigators, and police, we were able to determine the defendant’s identity and charge him with this brutal murder."
According to the investigation and as detailed in the indictment:
On Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, D’Agostino arrived in Wyandanch after traveling from Arizona to visit the victim.
D'Agostino and Staine, along with two other friends, rode the Long Island Railroad to New York City from Wyandanch on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022.
A review of surveillance video provided by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Police revealed that Staine and D’Agostino then returned together to Suffolk County during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
After missing their train stop in Wyandanch, the pair arrived at the Ronkonkoma station and then boarded the westbound train – headed back toward Wyandanch.
While getting onto the train car, D’Agostino, who was walking behind Staine, shot him once in the back of his head. When Staine collapsed to the ground, D’Agostino shot him in the torso.
The Suffolk County Medical Examiner later determined that Staine died due to the gunshot wounds.
The investigation further revealed that immediately after the fatal shooting, D’Agostino fled the railroad station and then Suffolk County. Law enforcement collected extensive surveillance video which tracks D’Agostino’s movements before, during, and after the murder.
Police also were able to track his locations based on cellphone data.
D’Agostino, who is being held without bail, faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count alone but is eligible to be sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
D’Agostino’s next court date is scheduled for Wednesday, June 14.
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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