17-year-old sentenced in drive-by shooting that left Syracuse man dead

Syracuse, N.Y. —A Syracuse teen was sentenced to prison Wednesday for his role in the murder of Daquan Sullivan.

Jeffery Felton, 17, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Sullivan, 37.

He admitted to acting with two others to kill Sullivan on July 8, 2023, in a drive-by shooting on the 1300 block of South State Street.

His two codefendants are Nasir Alrobyai, 17, and Myquise Williams, 20.

Williams was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Alrobyai was found guilty of second-degree murder after trial and faces 25 years to life in prison. He scheduled to be sentenced April 2.

Felton pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for 12 years in prison.

Felton was offered a lower sentence than his codefendant because the evidence against him was not as strong as it was in the other two cases, prosecutor Rob Moran said. There was forensic evidence placing Alrobyai and Williams in the suspect car but no forensic evidence matching Felton, he said.

Surveillance video captured gunshots being fired from a stolen 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander used during the shooting.

The three co-defendants opened fire at a group hanging out under a pavilion and Sullivan was shot in the back of the head.

Sade Sullivan, Daquan Sullivan’s wife, told Syracuse.com/The Post-Standard that her husband, who had been in prison and had been shot before, was known to try to use his experiences to show others that people, and life, can change.

“He was loved and well respected,” Sade Sullivan said. “He left a legacy behind and a stamp on the hearts of everyone he crossed paths with.”

Prosecutors said the murder of 17-year-old Karlianne Short just days before Sullivan’s murder was the motive of the shooting. The group was looking to take out their anger after the loss of a friend, prosecutors said. Sullivan was not involved in Short’s murder, they said.

Judge Melinda McGunnigle told Felton that it is rare she sees someone in his position with the support he has from family.

“It’s sad that despite all the support you have, as you’ve acknowledged yourself, that you had an association with negative, delinquent peers that led you to be in this position,” McGunnigle said. “And that’s what led to Daquan Sullivan losing his life for no reason.”

McGunnigle acknowledged she understood that Felton, Alrobyai and Williams were upset over the “senseless death” of their friend, Short. But that the three taking matters into their own hands to commit another killing of an innocent person was just as senseless.

McGunnigle also told Felton that while he was still able to see and speak with his family during his time at Hillbrook, Sullivan’s family cannot see in person him, hug him or call him.

“I hope that you never forget the pain you have caused the Sullivan’s and that you keep that in mind once you are released and you go on to live a productive life, free of crime,” McGunnigle said.