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Man Convicted of Murder After Crime Spree That Left 2 Dead, DA Says

By Nicholas Rizzi | May 25, 2016 5:08pm
 Tyrell Brown, 27, was convicted of two murders and a robbery from a 2014 crime spree across Staten Island, District Attorney Michael McMahon said.
Tyrell Brown, 27, was convicted of two murders and a robbery from a 2014 crime spree across Staten Island, District Attorney Michael McMahon said.
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Flickr/Joyce A. and NYPD

STATEN ISLAND — An ex-con who went on a two-day crime spree in 2014 — killing two people, carjacking several others and nearly running over an MTA police officer — was convicted of both murders Wednesday.

Tyrell Brown, 27, was convicted of killing Devin Powell, 23, and Kuwan Collins, 40, after a two-and-a-half week jury trial, District Attorney Michael McMahon announced.

"The defendant in this case committed these heinous murders, fatally shooting two men during a violent two-day crime spree in which he also put the lives of Tri-borough Bridge and Tunnel Officers and the public in danger," McMahon said in a statement.

"With this jury trial conviction, Staten Island is a safer place and the community can rest assured knowing that Mr. Brown will be held accountable for his actions."

Brown's spree started on July 6, 2014, when he robbed Powell, of Mariners Harbor, at gunpoint at Arlington Place and South Avenue, taking his State Benefits Card, an insurance card and cash before fatally shooting him in the head at about 4:35 a.m., prosecutors said.

Less than an hour later, Brown stole cash from Collins, of New Jersey, outside 367 Britton Ave. before fatally shooting him the head, prosecutors said.

At about 6:10 a.m., Brown went to 55 Holland Ave. and robbed a 29-year-old man at gunpoint for his Permanent Resident card, Social Security card and a silver bracelet before driving off in the victim's black Hummer, prosecutors said.

Brown drove to his own home at 225 Park Hill Ave., where he dropped off the victims' identification and then drove the Hummer to Brooklyn.

Brown tried to re-enter Staten Island over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge the next day at about 1:20 a.m. and was pulled over by MTA police, prosecutors said.

He drove the Hummer away from the toll plaza, almost hitting an MTA police officer who stood in front of the car before officers fired several shots at Brown, prosecutors said.

He drove onto the Staten Island Expressway, hit another car as he tried to exit at Narrows Road North and then abandoned the Hummer. An hour later, Brown stopped a cab and robbed the driver at Osgood and Fairway avenues, prosecutors said.

The spree ended when he tried to steal a motorcycle on Walker Street but failed. He then broke into a 2013 Honda Civic on the same block but didn't know how to drive a stick shift and fled on foot, prosecutors said.

Police finally caught up with Brown near Osgood and Mosel avenues.

He had been arrested eight times between 2002 and 2009 and was convicted of a robbery in 2009. He was released from prison in 2014 for the crime, records show.

On Wednesday, Brown was convicted of two counts of murder for the slaying of Powell and Collins, as well as robbery for stealing the Hummer, McMahon said.

He faces 20 years to life in prison for the murder convictions and up to 25 years for the robbery conviction, McMahon said.

Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13.