Hudson Valley Man Sentenced in Shooting Death of 23-year-old

A Hudson Valley Man was will serve a substantial amount of time in jail following the shooting death of a 23-year-old.

In Westchester County Court, 25-year-old Edwin Palestina, of Yonkers was sentenced to 25 years in prison following his conviction on felony charges of 1st-degree manslaughter and 1st-degree attempted murder.

According to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, on May 1, 2014, as 23-year-old Rodney Saunders was walking to his home in Yonkers, two men got out of a minivan and opened fire in an apparent ambush.

Saunders entered his home but was hit by 6 bullets. The fatal shot struck him in the chest and traveled through his heart and lungs.

An unnamed witness, who heard the shooting taking place, looked out his window and was shot at. One bullet grazed his shoulder.

The two shooters ran into a waiting vehicle and fled the area. An investigation lead to authorities identifying Palestina as one of the two shooters. He was found by Yonkers detectives and the F.B.I. in Houston, Texas in June of 2015.