Fight Over Barmaid Led to Cold Blooded Murder-DA

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 25- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced the conviction of a 28-year-old man on murder and illegal gun possession charges stemming from a dispute over a barmaid in January 2008.

William Gay, of Washington Avenue, the Bronx, was found guilty on one count of murder in the second degree and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree in connection with the death of Glenn Terrell. Terrell, 27, was shot once in the back of the head on the sidewalk in front of the Crystal Lounge Bar at 1035 Prospect Avenue.

State Supreme Court Justice Ann Donnelly set sentencing for Monday, August 6, 2012 in Part H96. Gay is facing a maximum sentence of 25 years to life on the murder charge and up to 15 years imprisonment on the gun charge. The jury deliberated for about five hours, following a nearly two-week long trial, before reaching the guilty verdict.

During the course of the trial, the jury heard testimony that the female bartender and the deceased had planned to spend time together at his apartment when her shift ended. As preparations were being made to close the bar, the woman stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and saw the defendant with whom she had also had a casual social encounter a few weeks earlier. When the woman greeted Gay and the two exchanged kisses, Terrell, the deceased, told her that she was leaving with him. Gay responded by shooting Terrell in the back of his head with a 9MM semi-automatic handgun.