How Many Years Can You Get for Second-Degree Murder in New York?
In six completed New York City second-degree murder cases reviewed for this guide, the directly stated murder sentences ranged from 15 years to life to 25 years to life. These selected outcomes are not a citywide average and do not predict another case.
Quick Answer
- Cases reviewed: 6 completed cases
- Lowest observed murder term: 15 years to life
- Highest observed murder term: 25 years to life
- Locations: Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan
- Classification: Class A-I felony
See the New York hub, compare first-degree assault cases, and read our methodology.
What Is Second-Degree Murder?
New York Penal Law §125.25 defines multiple forms of second-degree murder, including intentional murder, certain depraved-indifference murder, and specified felony-murder circumstances. The exact subsection and proven facts matter. The offense is a class A-I felony.
Statutory Sentence
New York Penal Law §70.00 provides an indeterminate life sentence framework for a class A-I felony. For ordinary second-degree murder, the minimum period is generally set between 15 and 25 years, followed by a maximum of life. Special circumstances can change the governing rules. This statutory framework is separate from the selected observed cases.
Observed Case Outcomes
| Case | NYC location | Disposition | Murder sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gucci Morris | Crown Heights, Brooklyn | Second-degree murder, jury conviction | 15 years to life |
| Ricardo Henry | East Elmhurst, Queens | Second-degree murder, jury conviction | 17 years to life |
| Michael Hosein | Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn | Second-degree murder, guilty plea | 19 years to life |
| Ricardo Dash | East New York, Brooklyn | Second-degree murder, jury conviction | 22 years to life |
| Derrick Lloyd | Brooklyn | Second-degree murder, jury conviction | 23 years to life |
| Donta King Jr. | Upper West Side, Manhattan | Second-degree murder and weapon possession, jury conviction | 25 years to life |
Case Details
Gucci Morris: Morris was convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander in Lincoln Terrace Park and received 15 years to life. Official source.
Ricardo Henry: A Queens jury convicted Henry in a retaliatory stabbing at an East Elmhurst shelter. The court imposed 17 years to life. Official source.
Michael Hosein: Hosein pleaded guilty in the strangulation death of his girlfriend in Bedford-Stuyvesant and received 19 years to life. Official source.
Ricardo Dash: Dash was convicted after an ambush shooting in East New York and received 22 years to life. Official source.
Derrick Lloyd: Lloyd was convicted of second-degree murder for a 1991 Brooklyn shooting and sentenced to 23 years to life. Official source.
Donta King Jr.: A Manhattan jury convicted King of second-degree murder and weapon possession for an Upper West Side shooting. The official sentencing entry states 25 years to life. Official source.
Why Sentences Differ
Plea decisions, trial verdicts, age, prior history, the statutory subsection, victim circumstances, and related convictions can affect the minimum term. Every sentence in this table retains the life maximum instead of flattening the result to a single number.
Methodology
We retained only completed cases with a confirmed New York City offense location, an explicit second-degree murder conviction, and a final murder sentence. Aggregate totals that did not allocate the murder term were excluded.
Sources
Disclaimer
General information only, not legal advice. Murder sentencing is highly fact-specific.