Reputed gang member gets 20 years for 2021 fatal point-blank shooting of teen in Queens

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A reputed gang member was sentenced to 20 years for a fatal 2021 point-blank shooting of a teen boy in Queens, authorities announced Monday.

On June 6, Dennis Vassilenko, 21, of Brooklyn, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison on Monday, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

Vassilenko’s co-defendant, Stephanie Pena, 23, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and was sentenced to one to three years in prison on June 10, 2022.

According to court records, on July 7, 2021, at approximately 4:20 p.m., the victim, Eduardo Hernandez-Martinez, 17, met up with Vassilenko in order to sell him a quantity of marijuana.

Video surveillance depicts Vassilenko leading Hernandez-Martinez from the original meeting place, which had been selected by the victim in front of a smoke shop located at 96-09 Roosevelt Ave. in Corona, onto Junction Boulevard, and then in front of a barbershop located at 95-48 40th Rd.

While Hernandez-Martinez held a bag of marijuana to sell, Vassilenko pulled a firearm out of his backpack and fired two shots at his chest from point-blank rangeoficials said.

Vassilenko immediately ran into a waiting getaway car driven by Pena.

Hernandez-Martinez was transported to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.

Trial evidence revealed that Vassilenko is a member of the Crips 8 Trey gang who was found guilty by the Department of Corrections of having slashed multiple inmates on Rikers Island since being remanded after his 2021 arrest.

"The defendant shot and killed a teenager on the street in broad daylight, displaying a complete disregard for a human life. Today’s sentence speaks to the relentless pursuit of my office to get guns off our streets and prosecute drivers of crime," DA Katz said. "We will continue to do this while also empowering our young people to make good choices. I hope that the justice we’ve achieved in this case provides a measure of solace to the young victim’s family."