Two teenagers from Hempstead indicted for shooting, killing Valley Stream man

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Two men from Hempstead were charged with murder for allegedly fatally shooting a Valley Stream man at the Hempstead train station on Christmas Day.

“Rafael Cepeda was heading to pick up his daughter on Christmas Day when a bullet allegedly fired by one of these defendants took his life,” District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a statement.

She said that on Dec. 25 at approximately 6:20 p.m., Foster fired multiple shots at a vehicle near Cepeda and he was struck in the chest. At the time of the shooting, Cepeda, who was not the intended target, was walking to the nearby train station to pick up his daughter. Both defendants are allegedly associated with the Bloods street gang.

Following an investigation, 17-year-old Shameq Sullins was arrested on Jan. 2 and 17-year-old Antoine Foster was arrested on June 20. The gun used in the shooting was never recovered.

Shameq Sullins, 17, and Antoine Foster, 17, both from Hempstead face two counts of murder in the second degree. Foster was also arraigned on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. The two defendants are due back in court on Aug. 29. If convicted, they can each face 25 years to life in prison.