A Brooklyn man was indicted for murdering his ex-girlfriend, a rookie correction officer. According to statements recently released, detectives say he told them she was involved in illegal activity of her own.
During questioning, 35-year-old Keon Richmond told police that her killing may or my not be linked to the immigrants she was smuggling into the country.
This came after Richmond found out that he was the prime suspect for Alastasia Bryan’s murder on December 4.
According to detectives, Richmond told them that Alastasia Bryan had been allegedly charging people $15,000 to “work the system” during their relationship. He claimed she would get paid to bring people deported from the United States, back into the country.
Statements were released on Wednesday after Richmond’s indictment for murder.
Richmond’s new girlfriend Shirley Mejia was charged in connection with the killing for allegedly “suppressing the vehicle Mr. Richmond used in the homicide,” said her attorney Douglas Appel.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic remanded Richmond and set $50,000 bail for Mejia.
If convicted, Richmond faces 25 years to life in prison.
Mejia faces up to seven years for charges of hindering prosecution.
Mejia, 24, gave several statements to authorities saying she and Richmond were together at their apartment in Paterson, N.J. the night of the murder.
After four alterative accounts, Mejia allegedly admitted that days before the shooting, Richmond placed a tracking device on to Bryan’s car, the documents read.
The suspected killer allegedly followed Bryan to her car while she was laughing and talking on the phone.
“Keon said she looked at him and realized it was him at the window and screamed and was bawling,” Mejia allegedly told detectives.
Bryan was shot five times and left for dead on the corner of Avenue L and E. 73rd St.
“Keon said he made the letter C with the bullets,” Mejia alleged told detectives.
It is alleged that two days after the murder, Mejia paid to have the getaway car stored at a mechanic’s shop in New Jersey and that Richmond removed the plates, prosecutors said.
“Officer Alastasia Bryan never even had a chance to defend herself from this cowardly defendant, who allegedly ambushed her in a deliberate, cold-blooded and calculated shooting,” said Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
Mejia also alleged that she is the victim of domestic violence at the hands of Richmond, according to court documents.
Relatives of Bryan filled the courtroom along with members of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association.
“God is a justice God… I believe justice will prevail for my niece,” Leon Moore, one of Bryan’s uncles, said outside of court.
Mejia and Richmond were also charged for torching another ex-girlfriend’s car in East New York on Oct. 13.
