Syracuse, NY – A 21-year-old man accused of a 2020 Syracuse murder was sentenced to prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to possessing a gun.
A murder charge against him was dropped.
Bernard Brumfield, of Syracuse, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for possessing a 9 mm handgun on Dec. 28, 2020. The same night, A’salic Parham, 25, was fatally shot in the 600 block of Ballantyne Road.
Brumfield was one of three people accused of participating in Parham’s murder. On Wednesday the murder charge was officially dropped.
Judge Gordon Cuffy said that while the murder charge was dropped, there was evidence that Brumfield was in the car with the alleged shooter and even handed the shooter the gun used to kill Parham.
Cuffy said that his role was not insignificant in the incident that led to a man’s death.
Brumfield took responsibility for his part in the crime. His young age also contributed to the negotiations that led to his guilty plea, Brumfield’s attorney Michael Kasmarek said.
Kasmarek said that Brumfield can have a bright future ahead of him after he is released from prison. He said that Brumfield completed his GED and got married while in jail.
Brumfield was the second of three people charged with Parham’s death. Parham was shot six times and later died at Upstate University Hospital.
Zaira Goodin, 20, was arrested in May 2021.
Goodin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in December 2022 in exchange for 18 years to life in prison. Prosecutors never commented on her role in Parham’s death. She has not been sentenced.
Vanico Spaights, 19, was arrested in June 2023 and charged with Parham’s death. Spaights’ case is still pending.
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A’salic Parham’s obituary
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Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her di lei at [email protected].
