3 Plead Guilty Following Drive-By Killing of Hudson Valley Man

Two local men pleaded guilty to their roles in a drive-by shooting that killed a Hudson Valley man and ensuing high-speed chase across three local counties.

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On Tuesday, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced three pleaded guilty in connection with a City of Newburgh homicide, which led to a high-speed chase to Poughkeepsie.

Steven Williams, 29, of Poughkeepsie, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. Donnell Johnson, 24, of Poughkeepsie, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment. Tysheed McPhee, 23, of Poughkeepsie, pleaded guilty to attempted tampering with physical evidence.

At the time of the guilty pleas, Williams, Johnson, and McPhee admitted that on January 25, they were in a car that Johnson was driving in the City of Newburgh.

Williams admitted he caused the death of a Newburgh man by recklessly shooting a gun toward the sidewalk and that one of the shots struck the man, killing him.

Johnson admitted he drove at excessive speeds, swerved between lanes among other motorists and drove on the shoulder of the highway to evade a pursuing Town of Newburgh police officer.

The chase ended when the car crashed into a tree in the City of Poughkeepsie.

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McPhee admitted he attempted to dispose of the weapon by throwing it out the car window as the car was fleeing the scene.

All three face up to 15 years in prison when sentenced.

Charges remain pending against a fourth person in the car, Kyreem Selman, 18, of Poughkeepsie.