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Man Sentenced to 40 Years to Life for Killing Four Homeless Men in New York
A New York man convicted of killing four homeless men in a brutal series of attacks across Manhattan has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
The convict, identified as 31-year-old Randy Santos, carried out the deadly attacks in October 2019, targeting homeless men who were asleep in different parts of Chinatown.
Speaking during the sentencing, Ward said the incident represented the “coming together of three horrible symptoms of this city homelessness, mental illness and narcotics abuse.”
She added: “I’ve been on the bench for about 30 years and those are the three things that seem to be the constant in almost all of our violent crime cases.”
The judge also expressed sorrow over the fact that the victims were among the most vulnerable members of society.
“I had a difficult time getting past the fact that he targeted the most vulnerable people in our society,” Ward said.
“People who were doing nothing but sleeping on the street, homeless,” she added.
Before delivering the sentence, the judge reviewed CCTV footage showing Santos carrying out the attacks.
Earlier this year, Santos was found guilty on four counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of attempted second-degree murder, and one count of attempted first-degree assault.
During the sentencing hearing, Santos apologized for his actions and pleaded for a chance to rebuild his life after prison.
“I just want to say, I’m very sorry for what I did,” Santos said, according to the Associated Press.
“I apologize to the people for what I did. I feel very bad about what I did. I wish it never happened,” he added.
Santos also told the court he planned to continue his education and improve his English while serving his sentence.
He further stated that his “mind [was] much better now” and claimed he felt like a different person.
Meanwhile, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Alfred Peterson became emotional while addressing the court, noting the absence of victim impact statements.
“There’s nobody here to tell this court about their lives and how their absence is a loss,” Peterson said.
“But I’m certain this court and this city understands the value of every life, and the gift of life that we’re afforded to live and make choices and have free will.”
Peterson added that Santos had taken that “gift” away from the victims.
According to prosecutors, Santos first attacked 49-year-old Anthony Manson, who was sleeping outside 17 East Broadway. Authorities said Santos repeatedly struck him in the head with a metal pipe, killing him.
He then crossed the street and attacked a group of homeless men sleeping on the sidewalk near 2 East Broadway.
Two of the victims, Nazario Abdelardo Vazquez Villegas, 55, and Florencio Moran Camano, 39, died from the assault, while another victim, David Hernandez, 49, survived with serious injuries.
Santos later moved into the Bowery area of Lower Manhattan, where he attacked 83-year-old Cheun Kok, who was sleeping near Doyers Street. Prosecutors said Santos struck Kok several times in the head, killing him.
Witnesses quickly contacted emergency services, and Santos fled the scene with the metal pipe before he was eventually arrested by New York City police officers near Mulberry and Canal Streets.
Investigators later linked Santos to another attack involving a homeless man near Chelsea Piers weeks before the killings.
During the trial, Santos’ defense team argued that he suffered from schizophrenia, which had been diagnosed months before the attacks occurred.
Since his arrest, Santos has reportedly moved between jail and psychiatric treatment facilities.
Defense lawyer Arnold Levine pleaded with the court not to impose a life-ending sentence.
“We ask that Mr. Santos not be sentenced to die in prison,” Levine said.
“He is not incorrigible or beyond redemption or hope,” he added.
However, the judge rejected the request and sentenced Santos to 40 years to life in prison.
Following the sentencing, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the attacks had deeply shaken New York City.
“He displayed an appalling disregard for the lives of his victims, who were completely defenseless and unable to protect themselves,” Bragg stated.
He added: “Unhoused individuals deserve the same level of safety as anyone else, and I hope the resolution of this case serves as a reminder of the work that remains in protecting and supporting our most vulnerable residents.”
