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Man Convicted of Murder in Fatal Bushwick Salon Shooting, DA Says

By Ben Fractenberg | January 20, 2017 6:29pm | Updated on January 23, 2017 8:52am
 Kenneth Bryant, 29, was found guilty Friday of fatally shooting Demetrius Mayo in a Bushwick nail salon in 2014.
Kenneth Bryant, 29, was found guilty Friday of fatally shooting Demetrius Mayo in a Bushwick nail salon in 2014.
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BROOKLYN — A Brooklyn man was convicted of murder after fatally shooting a man in a Bushwick nail salon in 2014, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Kenneth Bryant, 29, of Bed-Stuy, is facing up to life in prison after shooting 28-year-old Demetrius Mayo four times following an argument inside a salon on Myrtle Avenue near Broadway on Oct. 23, 2014.

“This defendant inserted himself into an argument and escalated it tragically, taking a man’s life and putting others at grave risk. He’s now been held accountable for his actions,” acting Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said in a statement.

Bryant left his backpack and ID in the salon after the shooting and was identified by a witness who was in the salon during the shooting.

He was arrested in Bridgeport, Connecticut on April 15, 2015.

Bryant was convicted by a jury Friday of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 8 in Brooklyn Supreme Court by Judge Vincent Del Giudice.

Bryant's lawyer, Lawrence Fredella, told DNAinfo New York that Mayo went to the salon with his crew to threaten Bryant's friend who was on crutches following a previous altercation with Mayo. 

Mayo first threatened Bryant's life and then began to pummel his friend before hitting the hobbled man with one of his crutches, Fredella added. 

Bryant then grabbed his friend's gun and shot Mayo in self defense, according to the lawyer. 

"He was defending himself and defending his friend who was being pummeled by [Mayo]," Fredella said. 

The lawyer added that he plans to file a motion to set aside the verdict and then will file an appeal to the conviction.