Two men sentenced in queens for deadly dice game shooting

Two Men Sentenced in Queens for Deadly Dice Game Shooting

Posted by
1 min read
August 7, 2024

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.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss