Man gets 25 years for 2016 murder at NYC shelter

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A man was sentenced to 25 years-to-life for murdering a man at a Manhattan men's shelter in 2016, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. announced Thursday.

William Smith was convicted of one count of murder on Nov. 16, 2023.

According to court documents, at approximately 12:45 a.m., on April 15, 2016, Smith entered 59-year-old Marcus Guerreiro’s room at the Bellevue Men's Shelther on East 30th Street in Kips Bay and repeatedly stabbed him in the neck, creating a deep stab wound and causing him to bleed to death.

During the encounter, Smith cut his own hand and left a trail of blood from Guerreiro’s room to a nearby bathroom, where a witness observed him washing the bleeding cut on his left hand.

Smith lived on the same floor as Guerreiro, officials said.

DNA belonging to Guerreiro was found on Smith's sneaker and DNA consistent with Smith was found on Guerreiro’s fingernails.

"William Smith brutally murdered Marcus Guerrerio, a 59-year-old disabled man, by entering his private room at the Bellevue Men’s Shelter and stabbing him repeatedly in his own bed. He struggled valiantly to protect his life, but he ultimately succumbed to the wounds," DA Bragg said. "Today, William Smith is facing accountability for his fatal actions. We will never tolerate this type of horrific violence and will always strive to achieve justice for victims and their loved ones."