NEW YORK (NYP) — A Bronx man convicted of gunning down his pregnant ex-girlfriend in front of her kids just hours after her baby shower was sentenced to 40 years to life behind bars on Thursday.
Justice Ann Scherzer slapped the prison term on Justin Soriano, 44, inside Manhattan Supreme Court for the grisly slaying of his eight-month pregnant ex gal pal, Shanice Young, outside her Harlem home in September 2021.
Soriano — who was convicted on murder, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and endangering the welfare of a child charges in November — pulled up to her building on a motorcycle as Young’s family and her new boyfriend unloaded baby shower gifts from a car into the apartment, while the expectant mom sat in the passenger seat, prosecutors said at the trial.
Justin Soriano, 43, was sentenced Thursday to 40 years to life for murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend. (Photo: Steven Hirsch)
Wearing all black and latex gloves, Soriano stormed into the building and then whipped out a gun and chased her boyfriend outside.
The 31-year-old mom stepped out of the car while her two daughters, 15 and 6, and the new boyfriend’s children — a 7-year-old girl and 1-year-old baby — sat in the vehicle.
Young asked “why he was doing this,” and the enraged ex repeated the question before blasting her three times in the face around 1 a.m. near West 128th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, according to prosecutors.
Eight months pregnant, Shanice Young was gunned down by a former boyfriend after returning from her baby shower. (Submitted by family)
Medics rushed Young to Harlem Hospital, where she and the unborn baby died.
A friend of Young’s said baby shower gifts were lined up in the hallway before the violence exploded.
“Who the f–k shoots a pregnant woman?” the distraught friend railed to The Post at the time. “You’ve got to be out of your mind.”
Soriano, meanwhile, fled the scene and was caught by cops days later in the Bronx.
Justin Soriano killed his pregnant ex-girlfriend in front of her kids. (Photo: Steven Hirsch)
He had nine previous arrests, including charges for drugs, resisting arrest and assault, according to police sources.
The tragedy came during a time that “should have been a joyous and memorable occasion and celebration” for Young, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
“Soriano committed this horrific shooting in front of four children, including Ms. Young’s own daughters, who helplessly watched their mother die right before their eyes.”
“I hope the significant sentence imposed today serves as a measure of justice for this tragic and abhorrent act of violence,” he added.
By STEVEN VAGO/New York Post
