QUEENS, NY — Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today the sentencing of Mark Watson and Rodney Dunn for the murder of 33-year-old Christopher McKnight during a dice game in Hollis in 2021. Both men received sentences of 23 years to life in prison.
The confrontation occurred on the evening of March 9, 2021, after approximately two hours of dice playing where McKnight was winning. The escalation led to McKnight being held at gunpoint, robbed of his winnings, and fatally shot, leading to his death from a bullet that pierced his aorta.
Watson, 28, and Dunn, 40, both residents of Hollis, were convicted last month after a two-week jury trial. Watson was found guilty on multiple charges, including murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Dunn’s convictions include murder, robbery, and weapon possession.
Justice Ira H. Margulis of the Queens Supreme Court handed down the sentences today, specifying that both the murder and weapon charges would be served concurrently. This sentencing stems from a violent incident captured on video surveillance, which played a crucial role in the convictions.
District Attorney Katz highlighted this case as a grim reminder of the urgent need to combat senseless gun violence in the community. The case was prosecuted by a team from the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Bureau, emphasizing the seriousness with which Queens handles violent crimes.
