Opinion ID: 8414603
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Murder of Terry Harrison

Text: Terry Harrison, also known as “T-Money,” was another Bronx-based drug dealer and a rival of Key. Key and his associates were involved in an ongoing, violent dispute with Harrison and a local street gang, “GFC,” that sold drugs for him. In the summer of 2010, Matthew Davis (“Matt”), an associate of Key, approached Kevin Wilson about committing a murder. 3 Wilson and Matt knew each other, and Wilson was aware that Matt had recently returned home from prison. While Wilson was leaving his child’s mother’s house, a minivan pulled up, with Matt inside. Matt told Wilson to get into the van. Wilson did so; inside were Matt, the driver, and one or two people in the back. After exchanging pleasantries, Matt told Wilson that he needed Wilson to “dress someone up” for him. Tr. 907. Matt explained that he needed Wilson to kill someone for him, “like now.” Tr. 907. One of the passengers in the back put a gun to Wilson’s head, while Matt instructed Wilson that “you gonna do it or we gonna kill you.” Tr. 907. Wilson agreed to commit the murder. 4 He gave Matt his phone number, and Matt said he would call Wilson. Wilson did not call the police or ask anyone else for help after his conversation with Matt. Matt called Wilson the next day and then went to meet him. They took a cab to 321, which Matt referred to as “Headquarters.” There, Matt introduced Wilson to Kyle Harris, or “Beans,” another individual who sold drugs for Key. After Beans left, Matt introduced Wilson to Keith Burges, or “Cuzzo,” and the three of them walked into the lobby of 321. Beans returned to the lobby and retrieved two handguns from a staircase. He banged on a mailbox with his fist to open it and put the guns inside. Wilson spent three or four days with Matt and his associates at 321. During that time, Matt told Wilson that there had been a change of plans; Cuzzo would be the primary shooter, and Wilson would be the backup. Wilson understood this to mean he would be responsible for shooting at anyone who shot at Cuzzo. At no point prior to the murder did Wilson know the target’s identity; he learned Harrison’s name after he was arrested. Wilson never asked Matt why Matt wanted him to kill someone, who the target was, or what he would get in exchange. Wilson hoped to get money out of his agreement to kill Harrison, but no one discussed a specific dollar amount for Wilson’s compensation prior to the murder. He hoped to become part of a team, with “people by [his] side.” Tr. 919. He further testified that “Matt was basically telling me they was going to hold me down, that I was going to be good.” Tr. 918. Wilson understood this to mean that Matt and his group would “hold me down, give me money, look out for me, watch over me,” and that this meant he would be “accepted with them.” Tr. 918. A few days prior to the murder, Beans gave Wilson and Cuzzo the guns from the mailbox in the lobby of 321. Wilson received a silver .380 caliber gun and Cuzzo a silver revolver. Wilson and Cuzzo left the building and walked through the housing projects on Courtlandt Avenue. Wilson was carrying the gun in his waistband. Wilson did not know whom they were looking for, so he. just followed Cuzzo. He understood that they were looking for the target of the murder plot. As they walked, a police car drove down the opposite side of the block. The car stopped and the officers jumped out. Wilson and Cuzzo, still carrying the guns from Beans, ran as the officers chased them. At some point, Wilson jumped over a gate and the gun fell to-the ground. He continued to run. He had lost Cuzzo at this point. After waiting a couple of minutes, he returned to Headquarters and told the group, which included Joseph Tarean, or “T,” and a man known as “E-Wop,” that he had dropped the gun. Matt called Wilson and told him that he would have to pay for the gun if he did not find it. Wilson left the building and ran into T, who told him that the area was clear of police activity. Wilson retraced his steps and found the gun buried in the grass. He picked it up and returned to 321, where Matt, T, Beans, and others were hanging out. Key arrived and began talking to Matt, who then introduced Key to Wilson. Two or three days later, Wilson got a phone call from Matt, asking him to come up to Courtlandt Avenue. Wilson called Matt once he had arrived, and Matt told Wilson he was across the street in a van. Wilson got into the van. Later, Key pulled up in a black Jeep. Key and Matt began talking through their rolled-down windows. Wilson could not understand what they were saying and thought that they were speaking in code. They spoke for a few minutes. Wilson left the van to go to the store. When Wilson got back to the van, Matt drove him around the block and told Wilson to do what he had been asked to do initially. Wilson understood this to mean that Matt was asking him kill someone. Wilson agreed. Matt handed Wilson a silver revolver from a concealed compartment in the roof of the van. Matt described the target to Wilson as a black man with braids and let Wilson out on the sidewalk. Wilson looked in the barbershop where Matt told him the target would be but did not see anyone other than the barbers. Matt called Wilson numerous times to see what was going on. During one of these calls, Wilson realized that he was at the wrong barbershop and proceeded up the block to another barbershop. Matt provided Wilson with additional details regarding Harrison’s appearance, and Wilson spotted Harrison walking towards him. Wilson ducked into a store, and Harrison and his friends entered the store behind Wilson. Wilson left the store and took another call from Matt, who expressed frustration that the shooting had not yet occurred. Matt told Wilson to “do what [he] got to do” and then run around the corner to Third Avenue, where Matt would pick him up in the minivan. Tr. 941. Wilson hid between two cars and moved the gun from his waistband to the front pocket of his sweatshirt. He then walked out from behind the cars towards Harrison and shot him three times. Harrison later died from the gunshot wounds. Wilson turned and ran to Third Avenue where he jumped into the van with Matt, Beans, and another individual. Wilson gave his sweatshirt and the gun to Beans and changed into another shirt that Matt gave him. Wilson told Matt he was not sure if he had killed Harrison. Matt let Wilson out of the minivan and told him to shower and relax. Later that night, Matt called Wilson and told him it was “pay day.” Tr. 946. Wilson believed that he was going to get paid for the murder. Wilson went to Matt’s house, where Matt was standing outside the van with Beans, Cuzzo, and Jamal Brooks. They all got into the van and drove to Manhattan. Once they reached their destination, Wilson and Matt got out and stopped at a grocery store. Key was standing across the street from the store, and they crossed over to talk to him. Key thanked Wilson for “handling that situation for him,” which Wilson understood to mean shooting Harrison. Tr. 948. Key then handed Wilson $1,000 in cash. After paying Wilson, Key appeared to be in high spirits and told Wilson “that’s how you get money.” Tr. 949.