22 years to life sentence for alleged Bloods gang member

An alleged Bloods gang member, Christopher Anderson a/k/a/ CK, 27, of Roosevelt, was sentenced on August 30 to 22 years to life in prison for the murder of a 21-year-old man and attempted murder of another individual in November 2020, as well as a separate incident of attempted murder for shooting at officers during a vehicle pursuit in December 2020. The sentencing was announced by Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly.

Anderson had previously pleaded guilty in June 2023 before Judge Howard Sturim to Murder in the Second Degree, and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, for a shooting on November 28, 2020, at Martin Luther King Park in Freeport. He also entered a guilty plea for Attempted Murder in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree in relation to an incident on December 29, 2020, in which he fired at four police officers. Anderson received his 22-years-to-life prison sentence on the same day.

“Christopher Anderson did not know Taffarie Haughton or the other teenage victim he shot at repeatedly at Martin Luther King Park in November 2020," DA Donnelly said. "He just knew that they had interrupted a gang meeting, and that was enough to unleash deadly violence on them. Anderson’s crime spree did not end after the shooting, and a month later he led police officers on a high-speed chase in Roosevelt that ended in more gunfire. Christopher Anderson is an incredibly dangerous individual. Today’s sentence ensures that he will no longer threaten our communities.”

According to DA Donnelly, on November 28, 2020, Taffarie Haughton, 21, and another 19-year-old victim were at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Freeport. As they attempted to leave the park, they found the exit blocked by several Bloods gang members who were attending a gang meeting in the park.

In a terrifying turn of events, Anderson and his co-defendant, Floyd McNeil, allegedly opened fire on the victims, injuring both of them. Haughton was fatally struck twice, once in the chest, piercing his lung and heart, and once in the left foot. He was pronounced deceased at Nassau University Medical Center. The other victim was struck once in the shoulder and received treatment at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital. Authorities recovered seven shell casings from the scene.

Anderson and McNeil were arrested on June 13, 2022, by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

Floyd McNeil, a/k/a DOT and Diddy DOT, 27, of Hempstead, faced charges including Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. McNeil's case is currently pending, and if convicted, he could face up to 50 years to life in prison.

Notably, McNeil was already serving a 25-year sentence after being found guilty at trial in June 2022 of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Criminal Use of a Firearm, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for a September 2019 shooting in Hempstead.

In a separate incident, on December 29, 2020, at approximately 8:14 p.m., four Hempstead Police Detectives pursued Anderson’s vehicle with lights and sirens activated for approximately one and a half miles through Roosevelt as he weaved in and out of traffic and drove at high rates of speed.

When Anderson pulled into a driveway near Pennywood Avenue and attempted to exit the vehicle, officers closed in. Anderson responded by firing two shots in the officers’ direction, narrowly missing them. In response, officers returned fire, but Anderson managed to escape unharmed. He was eventually apprehended on December 30, 2020.

The prosecution of these cases is being led by Senior Litigation Counsel Michelle Lewisohn and Senior Litigation Counsel Ania Pulaski of the Homicide Bureau. Anderson is represented by Michael Elbert, Esq., while McNeil is represented by Don Rollock, Esq.

It is essential to note that the charges against McNeil are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.