QUEENS, N.Y. — A Queens man was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Thursday for fatally shooting his friend during an argument over an unpaid debt in December 2021, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced.

Hassan Dees, 35, of Queens Village, pleaded guilty last month to first-degree manslaughter for the death of 31-year-old Peter Johnson, who was shot twice outside Dees’ home on December 26, 2021. The sentence also includes five years of post-release supervision.

According to prosecutors, Johnson went to the deli where Dees worked to confront him about the debt. After a brief argument, Johnson said he would continue the conversation at Dees’ home after his shift. Shortly after Johnson left, Dees retrieved a bag from the back of the deli, left work, and followed Johnson to his residence on 212th Street.

Dees shot Johnson twice, hitting him in the head and arm, as Johnson approached Dees’ home around 10:45 p.m. Johnson’s body was found unresponsive in Dees’ driveway more than two hours later. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the devastation caused by illegal guns,” District Attorney Katz said in a statement.

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