Long Island Homicide Lawyer

Long Island Homicide Attorney

Being charged with a homicide can be a life-altering experience that leaves you unsure about your options and what the future holds. A Long Island homicide lawyer can inform you about your options while working to secure a favorable outcome for your case, which could include dropped or reduced charges. A criminal defense attorney in Long Island can ensure that your rights are protected and you stand the strongest chance of avoiding serious consequences.

Unwavering Legal Representation When It Matters Most

When facing serious criminal charges, it is important to remember that the burden of proving guilt falls on the prosecution. At The Vitaliano Law Firm, our job is to ensure that the prosecution does not reach its burden of proof. Defendants rely on our firm to deliver exceptional legal services because our founding attorney is a former prosecutor.

Attorney Michael Vitaliano previously served in the New York City District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted homicide cases and other violent felonies. After earning his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, he returned to Staten Island and opened The Vitaliano Law Firm to defend clients in the community he calls home. Clients regularly commend his professionalism and case results in reviews shared across multiple platforms.

Understanding Homicide Rates in Long Island

Homicide rates in Long Island have shown some decline, but serious cases continue to emerge. During the first quarter of 2024, Nassau and Suffolk counties reported 54 combined murders, making a 10% drop from the year before.

In 2025, Suffolk County recorded a murder rate of 2.8 per 100,000 residents. A recent case in Brentwood involved the arrest of 21-year-old Alex Reyes, who was charged in connection with the death of Alexander Velasquez. Violent incidents like this impact neighborhoods such as Wyandanch, Uniondale, and Shirley. Most homicide cases in Suffolk are handled at the Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, New York.

What Crimes Qualify as Homicide?

Homicide is a broad legal category that includes several offenses involving the unlawful killing of another person. The most serious of these is murder, which is the intentional act of taking someone’s life. Other crimes under this umbrella term include manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Long Island homicide cases may involve acts ranging from shootings and stabbings to unintentional deaths caused by reckless conduct. One common crime that does not require criminal intent is vehicular manslaughter. Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense. If that decision results in one or more persons’ deaths, the consequences can be serious and life-altering.

A homicide attorney can assess the evidence used by prosecutors to determine the ideal legal defense strategy. Homicide penalties vary depending on the degree of the charge. For example, murder in the second degree can lead to a life sentence, while criminally negligent homicide carries significantly less time.

Why You Need To Hire a Homicide Lawyer

If you are facing criminal charges for homicide in Long Island, the most important choice you can make is whether or not to hire a homicide lawyer to represent you in court. A conviction for any homicide can lead to severe consequences, including years or decades in prison and a felony on your criminal record.

A skilled homicide defense attorney from our firm can carefully examine the facts of a case to find weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. If the evidence does not support the criminal charge, the lawyer can take steps to have the charges reduced or dropped.

Common defense strategies include arguing that the police arrested the wrong suspect. In other cases, a defense lawyer may be able to argue that the death resulted from self-defense or an unfortunate accident.

FAQs

Is Criminally Negligent Homicide the Same as Manslaughter in NY?

In New York, criminally negligent homicide is not the same as manslaughter. Manslaughter involves reckless behavior and showing a conscious disregard for risk. Criminally negligent homicide requires proof that the person failed to perceive a substantial risk. Both are felonies, but negligent homicide is generally treated as less serious. The applicable charge depends on the facts and the accused person’s actions.

What Classifies as a Homicide in New York?

Homicide in New York refers to the unlawful killing of another person. It includes charges of murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. Each charge depends on how the death occurred and the defendant’s mental state, such as intent, recklessness, and negligence. The specific classification determines the penalties and must be supported by evidence presented by the prosecution in court.

How Long Do You Go to Jail for Negligent Homicide in NY?

Criminally negligent homicide is a Class E felony in New York, punishable by up to four years in prison. Actual sentences may be shorter depending on the defendant’s criminal history, mitigating factors, and the court’s judgment. In some cases, probation or alternative sentencing is possible. Sentencing is determined based on the case circumstances and the judge’s discretion at sentencing.

What Is Worse, Negligent Homicide or Manslaughter?

Manslaughter is more serious than criminally negligent homicide in New York. It involves reckless conduct, which reflects a higher level of disregard for human life than negligence. As a result, manslaughter typically carries longer prison sentences and is charged as a more severe felony. The specific legal consequences vary, but manslaughter generally brings harsher penalties than negligent homicide under state law.

Contact The Vitaliano Law Firm for Trusted Homicide Defense in New York

Any crime that involves homicide can lead to life-altering consequences, like confinement in prison. If you are facing homicide or manslaughter charges in New York, you can rely on our trusted and respected law firm. The Vitaliano Law Firm defends clients facing murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide charges.

Our legal team is led by a former prosecutor who understands how to challenge the state’s case against you while protecting your rights at every turn. In 2022, our founding attorney was named a Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney by Attorney Practice and Magazine. Contact our office today to learn what we can do for you.