D.A. Bragg Announces Sentencing Of William Smith For Murder At Bellevue Shelter

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the sentencing of WILLIAM SMITH, 62, to 25 years-to-life in state prison for murdering Marcus Guerrerio at the Bellevue Men's Shelter on April 15, 2016. On November 16, 2023, a New York State Supreme Court jury convicted SMITH of one count of Murder in the Second Degree.

"William Smith brutally murdered Marcus Guerrerio, a 59-year-old disabled man, by entering his private room at the Bellevue Men's Shelter and stabbing him repeatedly in his own bed. He struggled valiantly to protect his life, but he ultimately succumbed to the wounds," said District Attorney Bragg. "Today, William Smith is facing accountability for his fatal actions. We will never tolerate this type of horrific violence and will always strive to achieve justice for victims and their loved ones."

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, SMITH lived on the same floor of the Bellevue Men's Shelter as Marcus Guerreiro.

On April 15, 2016, at approximately 12:45 a.m., SMITH entered Mr. Guerreiro's room and repeatedly stabbed Mr. Guerreiro in the neck, creating a deep stab wound and causing him to bleed to death. During the encounter, SMITH cut his own hand and left a trail of blood from Mr. Guerreiro's room to a nearby bathroom, where he was observed by a witness washing the bleeding cut on his left hand.

DNA belonging to Mr. Guerreiro was found on SMITH's sneaker and DNA consistent with SMITH was found on Mr. Guerreiro's fingernails.

Assistant D.A.s Alfred Peterson and Meral Kerim (Trial Bureau 70) handled the prosecution of this case with former Assistant D.A.s James Lynch and Steve Nuzzi under the supervision of David Hammer (Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 70) and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Former Trial Preparation Assistants Grace Shrestha and Jamie Winslett provided valuable assistance in this case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, specifically Detective Christopher Rickford of the 13th Precinct Detective Squad, Retired Detective Gordon Brown of the Regional Fugitive Task Force, Retired Detective George Velez of the Crime Scene Unit and Detective Mazine Henry of the NYPD Department of Homeless Services.

Defendant Information:

WILLIAM SMITH

New York, NY

Convicted:

• Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony one count

Sentenced:

• 25 years-to-life in state prison

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