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March 24, 2022 By Christian Murray
A Forest Hills man who participated in a botched home invasion in South Richmond Hill in 2016 that led to the fatal stabbing of a man has been convicted of second-degree murder and other crimes.
Kristof Williams, 27, of Grand Central Parkway, was found guilty by a jury for his involvement in the stabbing death of Eddie Ventura, 20, who was killed when four men—including Williams—broke into a South Richmond Hill home in November 2016 as part of a robbery.
According to trial records, at approximately 2 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2016, Williams along with three others entered a home on 110th Street. The defendant believed the group would find Xanax pills, marijuana and cash inside.
Williams and the three other attackers found Ventura in a bedroom playing video games with two others. Ventura fought with one of the men and was stabbed numerous times in the back and thigh.
Ventura died as a result of the stab wounds.
“After nearly two weeks of listening to testimony, a jury found the defendant guilty of murder in the death of a young man who was at a friend’s home playing video games when he was suddenly attacked and killed,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement. “This defendant was a participant in this senseless act of violence. His fate will now be determined when the Court sentences him for his criminal actions.”
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6 and faces 25 years-to-life in prison.
The three other men who participated in the crime have already been charged and sentenced to prison.
Khalil Moses, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree, was sentenced to 21 years in prison in September 2020. Meanwhile, John Pichardo was sentenced in July 2020 to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to burglary in the first degree.
Jose Pichardo was sentenced to 18 years-to-life in prison in October 2021 after being convicted at trial of murder in the second degree.
