Freeport Man Sentenced to 14 to 17 Years for Providing Gun that Killed Anti-Gang Activist

Corse also sentenced for illegally selling four guns while in jail

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Erik Corse has been sentenced to 14 to 17 years in prison for his role in the October 2006 shooting death of anti-gang activist Hykiem Coney outside of a bar near Hofstra University.

Coney was shot and killed just after 4 a.m. on October 21, 2006 outside of Image Bar in Uniondale.

In April, a Nassau County jury found the 24-year-old Freeport man guilty of six felonies, including Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second and Third Degrees, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, and Attempted Criminal Sale of a Weapon in the Third Degree. Rice said that Corse provided Coney’s killer with a handgun moments before the fatal shooting. Rice also said that while incarcerated after his arrest, Corse arranged for the sale of four guns, including the weapon used in the Coney killing.

In April 2007, Tyrel Cason, 26, of Roosevelt was convicted of Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second and Third Degrees, and is currently serving 20 to 30 years in prison.

“This senseless killing has shattered the lives of everyone involved with this case,” said Rice. “Even after two convictions and lengthy prison terms for those responsible, today we are no more aware of why this senseless killing occurred than we were 20 months ago.”

Handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office are Executive Assistant District Attorney Meg Reiss and Assistant District Attorney and Bureau Chief of the DA’s Street Narcotics & Gangs Bureau Teresa Corrigan. Corse is being represented by John Lewis, Esq.