111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116

Feb. 5, 2016 -- Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty announced today that Edwin Palestina (DOB 11/21/91) of Yonkers, New York pled guilty to the following charges:

• one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class "B" Felony and
• one count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, a class "B" Felony

in the shooting death of Rodney Saunders.

On May 1, 2014 at approximately 2 a.m. the 23-year-old victim was walking on Woodsworth Avenue near Gold Street in Yonkers when two men got out of a minivan and opened fire in an ambush.

Saunders attempted to enter his house, but he was struck six times by bullets. The fatal shot struck him in the chest, traveling through his heart and lungs.

A witness looking out of his window was also fired upon. The bullet hit a window guard, crazing his shoulder.

The two shooters ran to the waiting minivan and fled the area.

An intensive investigation led to information identifying Edwin Palestina as one of the two shooters.

On June 16, 2015, Palestina was arrested by Yonkers Detectives and the F.B.I. in Houston, Texas.

The defendant is remanded to the Westchester County Jail.

He is due to be sentenced on April 7, 2016.

The defendant faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Julia Cornachio and Assistant District Attorney John O'Rourke of the Superior Court Trial Division are prosecuting the case.