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A Hempstead man, Deshawn Martin, 28, was convicted on June 4, 2025, of Murder in the First Degree and six counts of Robbery in the First Degree, among other charges. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
The conviction stems from an incident in January 2022 where Martin attempted to rob a restaurant in Hempstead. During the attempted robbery, he shot and killed 49-year-old Santos Valeriano Argueta at point-blank range when Argueta intervened to stop Martin's assault on another patron. Martin shot Argueta three times, striking him in the forearm and head, and then fired once more into his chest.
The trial began on May 5, 2025, and the jury delivered their verdict after four hours of deliberation. Martin was due back in court for sentencing on July 21, 2025.
The Nassau County District Attorney's office described Martin as a "cold-blooded killer and a true career criminal," noting he had committed several other robberies in Nassau County prior to the murder and had an additional arrest for robbery in Florida.
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