James Brown, 45, of Mastic, was recently found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree by a jury of his peers. The court held that he was solely responsible for the fatal shooting of Ulmar Eliquhir, also 45 and of Mastic, in November 2023.
Brown and Eliquhir were reportedly longtime friends, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney.
A previously convicted felon also convicted of related charges in this ruling, Brown faces up to 40 years to life imprisonment.
Evidence provided at trial established that on Nov. 7th, 2023, at around 9:27 p.m., Suffolk County Police were called to Mastic’s Poospatuck Reservation. A male—Eliquhir—was discovered unresponsive, lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Long Island Community Hospital, and pronounced dead on arrival.
The crime scene happened to be next to a home wherein Brown resided. It did not take long for a thoroughly conducted investigation to produce video surveillance from a smoke shop across the street that depicted Brown and the departed engaging in a physical altercation earlier that same evening.
Eliquhir initially stormed off, but returned two hours later and parked outside the home. At this point, law enforcement confirms that Brown burst out of the house and repeatedly yelled, “You wanna die?” before firing nine shots into Eliquhir’s vehicle.
Multiple bullets struck Eliquhir as he sat in the driver’s seat. Brown walked away and retreated to his home, and later testified at trial that he was merely acting in self-defense.
A palm print of Brown’s was lifted from an area he appeared to be touching when he shot the bullets that killed his friend-turned-victim.
Brown was previously convicted in February 2012 of Assault in the First Degree (Loaded Weapon). He was sentenced to five years in prison.
His additional charge pertaining to the murder of Eliquhir is Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
Brown is to be formally sentenced on June 16th, 2025.
“I thank the jury for the attention they paid to this case,” said DA Tierney. “We will seek a sentence that ensures defendant Brown can no longer hurt other Suffolk County residents.”