By Tiffany Williams –
QUEENS, NY – 25-year-old Raymond Kenner has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for fatally stabbing two men in separate incidents in December 2021. His codefendant, Alexander Stephens, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in one of the robberies.
Kenner, of West 31st Street in Manhattan, pleaded guilty on June 3 to two counts of first-degree manslaughter before Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder. On Monday, Justice Holder sentenced Kenner to 35 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
Stephens, 34, of 109th Road in St. Albans, pleaded guilty on June 5 to second-degree robbery. He was sentenced to seven years in prison with five years of post-release supervision.
According to the charges, on December 21, 2021, around 9 p.m., Kenner followed 25-year-old Andrew Cunje from Francis Lewis Boulevard to Carpenter Avenue in Hollis. He approached Cunje and stabbed him multiple times. The victim was later found on the ground and taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Kenner and Stephens stole Cunje’s backpack before fleeing.
Two days later, on December 23, 2021, at approximately 11 p.m., Kenner chased 29-year-old Benjamin Vasquez near 89th Avenue in Jamaica, close to Rufus King Park. After catching up to Vasquez, he threw him to the ground and stabbed him about eight times before stomping on him. Although Vasquez managed to get up and flee, Kenner caught him again and slammed him to the ground. Vasquez was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Kenner was arrested on December 29, 2021. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing the same clothes seen in surveillance footage from the first attack. Police noted blood spatter on his clothing and recovered a folding knife from his pocket.
District Attorney Katz said the sentences reflect the gravity of the crimes: “These were brutal and senseless acts of violence that left two families devastated. With today’s sentencing, justice has been served.”