RIVERHEAD MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Michael Gilbert, 29, of Riverhead, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of fatally shooting Tyrell Durham 37, of Moriches, following an argument between the victim and Gilbert’s girlfriend in 2021.

“What started out as a verbal argument escalated to murder,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We hope that this lengthy prison sentence provides some measure of justice for Tyrell’s family and friends, all of whom still mourn his tragic loss.”

The evidence at trial established that on November 26, 2021, just after midnight, Gilbert overheard an argument between Durham and Gilbert’s girlfriend over the telephone. Gilbert got onto the telephone call and began arguing with Durham, culminating in Gilbert telling Durham to meet him outside. Coles resided in the same apartment building as Durham.

Durham and his girlfriend went outside of his apartment. Moments later, Gilbert and his girlfriend appeared around the corner of the building. Gilbert then fired a .22 caliber semiautomatic handgun at Durham six times, striking him three times in his body.

Durham was pronounced dead within one hour of his transport to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue. Gilbert fled the scene but surrendered to Suffolk County Police Department Homicide Detectives on December 1, 2021.

On September 26, 2023, Gilbert was convicted after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony. On November 2, 2023, Gilbert was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was represented by Jonathan Manley, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Jeffrey Bottari of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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