After years of evading law enforcement, a Brooklyn man has been arraigned on murder charges linked to the fatal shooting of Justin Hackley, a visiting college student, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office reports. The long-standing pursuit came to an end with the arrest of 35-year-old Dean Boland in Albany, New York, by U.S. Marshals. His arraignment took place before Supreme Court Justice Susan Quirk where Boland faced charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. According to the district attorney's report, Boland is to be held without bail ahead of his next court date on February 3.
The case, which dates back to 2017, stems from an altercation that escalated fatally. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez stated, "This case involved the tragic death of an innocent young man with a promising future who was senselessly killed on a Brooklyn street." He further noted that the victim's family had waited years for justice while the alleged perpetrators attempted to dodge capture. Despite this case resurfacing amidst declining shooting rates in Brooklyn, Gonzalez emphasized the commitment to ensuring accountability and justice in every case.
On the evening of July 11, 2017, a dispute arose after Rasheed Boland, the defendant's brother, allegedly started hitting on a woman. This prompted a fight with her boyfriend and an attempt by the victim's friend to intervene. The Boland brothers later returned, armed and searching for the men involved. It is reported that at around 11:35 p.m., as Hackley emerged from a building on Ocean Avenue along with his friend, the pair were assaulted. In the struggle that ensued, Hackley was shot twice and pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital Center. His friend and another man managed to disarm Dean Boland before the brothers fled the scene.
The investigation led to the indictment of the Boland brothers about two months after the homicide, with evidence including surveillance videos and DNA linking them to the crime scene. After Rasheed Boland's arrest in Texas in 2019, justice seemed to inch closer for Hackley's family. The prosecution, handled by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daphney Gachette, falls under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini of the Homicide Bureau. With the recent arraignment of Dean Boland, both siblings are now facing the consequences of that dreadful night.
