The brutal murder of a Brooklyn laundromat owner caught on camera was masterminded by his cousin in a plot to steal a flashy $30,000 gold necklace, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez faces murder, conspiracy to commit murder, robbery and other charges stemming from the Dec. 1 killing of Money Perkins, 37, inside an East Flatbush laundromat. Five Far Rockaway men have been charged.
Perkins was allegedly ambushed by his cousin Ronnie Butler, 46, and four other assailants armed with handguns and wearing large, heavy coats. Perkins and Butler have been feuding since he opened his business, Money P. Clean, in 2022, prosecutors said.
Butler, along with his friend Louie Mercado, 48, shot Zechariah Slay, Mercado’s 16-year-old step-son, and friends Shariq Riddick, 19, who are described as gangbangers, and Deante. Sources previously told the Post that he and Stinson, 20, planned the necklace robbery.
Prosecutors say the son-in-law and his friends were offered cash in exchange for their involvement in the crime.
Graphic video footage obtained by the Post shows the moment Mr Perkins was shot to death inside the Clarendon Road store on December 1st.
The footage shows Perkins lunging at one of the robbers, identified in court documents as his cousin, and dragging him to the floor as other robbers wait. . Butler was seen repeatedly slamming Perkins’ head into the floor and snatching his chain, which he later sold, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors added that at least three of the robbers opened fire, hitting the victim a total of 13 times in the head, torso, and legs.
Mr. Butler was arraigned Tuesday before Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Danny Chun, with all defendants charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering welfare. He has been charged with various crimes. child, second-degree conspiracy, fourth-degree conspiracy.
Riddick and Stinson were arraigned on March 27, and the defendants were held without bail and ordered to return to court on May 9.
Slay, who faces the highest charge of second-degree murder, was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Craig Walker on March 13, held without bail, and returned to court on May 10. ordered to return.
Mercado’s arraignment is scheduled for April 4.
