Khamari Elie, of Hempstead, pleads guilty to second-degree murder in killing of Kyle Midtlyng

A Hempstead man pleaded guilty to murder on Monday in the November 2021 death of a 24-year-old man during an attempted robbery in Uniondale.

Khamari Elie, 20, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, in the death of 24-year-old Kyle Midtlyng, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

He faces 17 years to life in prison. Donnelly’s office had recommended a sentence of 20 years to life.

"Khamari Elie’s plea reflects his undeniable role in this violent crime," Donnelly said. "Although he did not pull the trigger himself, this defendant accepted culpability for Kyle Midtlyng’s senseless death when he took part in planning the robbery and got behind the wheel to drive to Alexander Avenue that night where Kyle was fatally shot."

On the night of Nov. 10, 2021, co-defendant Tariq Pitaud lured Midtlyng to an Alexander Avenue address under the pretense of wanting to buy marijuana via text message, officials said.

Elie drove Pitaud, as well as co-defendants Kyle Colthirst and Tyrel Cason Jr., to the scene, with the intention of robbing Midtlyng, the district attorney said.

Once they arrived, Colthirst and Cason Jr. got out of the vehicle to confront Midtlyng, officials said.

Colthirst then entered the front passenger side of Midtlyng’s vehicle. During the attempted robbery, Colthirst shot Midtlyng once in the right side, piercing both lungs and his aorta, prosecutors said.

He then got out of the vehicle and fled down Lee Road.

Nassau County police responded to the area after a 911 call was placed and found Midtlyng lying in the middle of the road outside of his car.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A shell casing recovered from the passenger side floorboard of Midtlyng’s vehicle and blood droplets found on the sidewalk of Lee Road were later matched with Colthirst’s DNA, officials said.

Colthirst was also wearing an electronic monitoring device at the time of the murder, and GPS data placed the monitor at the scene during the time the crime was committed, police said.

Elie also pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal mischief, stemming from a separate indictment, prosecutors said. He is due back in court on Nov. 6.

Pitaud, 21, of West Babylon, was convicted after a trial of first-degree attempted robbery and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 1.

Cason Jr., 21, of South Farmingdale, was indicted and arraigned on Nov. 27 on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The case against him is pending.

Colthirst was convicted after a trial of second-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery and two counts of second-degree. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on April 2.

Midtlyng’s family members spoke at his sentencing, describing Midtlyng as a star Uniondale High School football player in his day, an all-around athlete, and overall, a kind person.