Glen Cove man convicted of murdering coworker

Lawrence Grammer faces up to 25 years in prison for 2018 shooting in Glen Head

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Lawrence Grammer of Glen Cove was convicted Thursday in the August 2018 shooting death of his co-worker at an automotive repair shop in Glen Head.

According to the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, Grammer, 74, shot Bashir 'Bobby' Ward in the back of the head at the Citgo Gas Station/D&R Auto Services in Glen Head the day after the two men had an argument.

Grammer was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder (an A-I felony) and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a C violent felony).

The trial, before Judge Howard Sturim, began on May 24. The jury deliberated for less than a day before rendering their verdict. The defendant is due back in court on July 27 and faces up to 25 years to life in prison.


According to the indictment, Grammer shot and killed Ward, age 35, on Aug. 4, 2018, at approximately 11:20 a.m.

The defendant, who was 71 at the time of the incident, was employed as a mechanic at the shop for approximately 15 years. On the day before the murder, Grammer and a third co-worker got into an argument over gas station receipts, officials said.  Ward intervened and Grammer and Ward's argument became physical and Ward pushed Grammer onto the ground, according to the DA’s office.

The following day, officials said, Ward was working on a customer's Jeep on a lift, while the defendant was working on his own vehicle, a Dodge Durango. According to the DA’s office, Grammer retrieved a gun from his vehicle, walked up to Ward, shot him once in the back of the head from less than two feet away and left the location for a short period of time.

According to the DA’s office, Grammer called 911 and told the dispatcher, "I just killed a guy," and that the murder weapon was in the seat of a Toyota. He returned to the shop a few minutes later and was placed under arrest. The gun was recovered in a Toyota Rav4, which was parked down the street and registered to the defendant's son.

Grammer’s attorney could not be reached for comment at press time.