Man Charged With Striking, Killing Teen With Machete On Long Island
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Family and friends of a Long Island teenager killed in a machete attack came face to face with his alleged murderer in court on Saturday.
David Sadler, 45, of Hempstead, is accused of striking 17-year-old Terrance Grier in the neck with a machete, killing him.
According to Nassau County Police, Sadler attacked Grier with the machete after the two got into an argument at around 5:25 p.m. in Hempstead on Friday.
Grier was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. They said Sadler ran off, but was located and arrested by police officers in Hempstead.
As CBS 2's Don Champion reported, friends and family of the teen were angry and emotional as they left Sadler's arraignment on Saturday.
"It's hard. It's hard for me to explain my loss," said Grier's father, Terrence Grier Sr.
Terrence Grier said he spoke to his son just hours before he was killed Friday afternoon. He said he can't understand why anyone would want his son dead.
"If you ask anyone, he's an angel. He's not out there terrorizing no one, cause I didn't raise him to be that way," he said.
Oustide of court, Sadler said he bought the machete online, 1010 WINS reported. He also claimed he acted in self-defense, Champion reported.
"He won't jump nobody else, put it that way," Sadler said. "They jump me, rob me. People was out there, they saw what happened -- no one did anything about it."
Grier's father refuted Sadler's claims that he was jumped.
"I don't think my son would do that, no," he said.
Before his death family members said Grier had just gotten back from Job Corps. He worked and was making plans to attend school -- dreams and goals his father said the teen was robbed of.
"I was born and raised in the streets, and I've been there and done everything. And I didn't want him to go through the life I went through," he said.
Sadler is charged with second-degree murder, according to Nassau County police. He is being held without bail.
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