MINEOLA, NY — A Hempstead man will spend 24 years to life in prison after being convicted of robbing and fatally shooting a man who was asleep in his car, Nassau County prosecutors announced.

Kadeem Lewis, 31, was sentenced after being found guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and second-degree robbery for the death of 33-year-old Jose Sanchez-Velasquez in 2019. Judge Robert Bogle delivered the sentence following Lewis’s conviction in October.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of November 25, 2019, when Lewis and an accomplice were searching for a home to burglarize. Instead, they encountered Sanchez-Velasquez, who was asleep in his car with the engine running. After stealing several cell phones and pulling Sanchez-Velasquez from the vehicle, Lewis shot him in the chest when the victim attempted to call for help.

Lewis was connected to the crime through DNA evidence found on a ski mask and stolen cell phones. He was arrested in February 2020. Nassau County prosecutors expressed their hope that the sentence provides closure to Sanchez-Velasquez’s family.

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Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

Experience and interests: Criminal Justice, Business, Animal Care, Entertainment, Lottery News, Local News