NEW YORK, NY — The man convicted of fatally shooting his pregnant ex-girlfriend in Harlem in 2021 was sentenced Thursday to 40 years to life in prison, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced.
Key Points
- Justin Soriano, 43, sentenced to 40 years-to-life for 2021 murder of Shanice Young.
- Young, 31, was eight months pregnant when she was shot in front of her two daughters.
- A jury found Soriano guilty in November 2024 on all counts, including second-degree murder.
Gunfire erupted after baby shower
Justin Soriano, 43, was convicted in November of murdering 31-year-old Shanice Young, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her death. Prosecutors said Soriano shot Young in the face multiple times in the early morning hours of Sept. 12, 2021, just after she returned home from a baby shower.
“Justin Soriano will serve state prison time for viciously murdering Shanice Young on what should have been a joyous and memorable occasion,” said District Attorney Bragg following Thursday’s sentencing.
Young was with her two daughters, her cousin, and friends when Soriano confronted the group near her apartment building on West 128th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. According to trial evidence, he had arrived on a motorcycle wearing all black, a face covering, and latex gloves.
Murder witnessed by children
After chasing one of Young’s male friends through the building, Soriano exited and approached Young, who had gotten out of the car. When she asked why he was there, he allegedly repeated her question and then fired three close-range shots at her head. Two of the bullets entered her brain, prosecutors said.
Four children, including Young’s two daughters, were inside the vehicle and witnessed the shooting. Young and her unborn child were pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Capture and conviction
Soriano fled the scene and remained at large until his arrest in the Bronx four days later, on September 16, 2021. A New York Supreme Court jury found him guilty on all charges on November 21, 2024, including second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
D.A. Bragg credited the NYPD’s 32nd Precinct and multiple specialized units for their roles in the investigation and capture of Soriano.