By: Jerry Burke
Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon made the announcement after a jury found Mario Flores, 24, guilty of the most serious charge in connection with the Feb. 12, 2003, shooting that took place outside the Lakeview home of a woman police say both men were romantically involved with.
Naverette, a nightclub owner from Franklin Square, lay near death on Carol Street after three shots fired at close range hit his torso and head. An hour later, after being brought to Mercy Medical Center, Naverette was pronounced dead.
Police say Flores fled the scene but was arrested less then five hours later, hiding in a Copiague motor lodge.
According to Lt. Dennis Farrell of the Nassau County Homicide Squad, both Naverette and Flores were romantically involved with 27-year-old Lesly Santiago. According to friends of the couple, Naverette and Santiago had been together for about four years.
Police say that Santiago, who had lived with Naverette for a brief time, began seeing Flores about four months before the shooting, though one of Naverette's friends said that Santiago and Naverette were thinking of getting married.
Once Naverette discovered the relationship, police said, he and Flores had several confrontations, though police were never called.
Farrell said the events leading up to the shooting began at 4:25 p.m. that February day According to the police account, Flores, Santiago and another male friend drove to Santiago's Lakeview home to pick up her 7-year-old daughter. A few minutes later, Naverette arrived there, pulled his car in front of Flores's, got out and approached the driver's side of his rival's car. A witness to the scene, who did not give her name, said Naverette was "very angry and shouting in Spanish. About a second later," the witness continued, "I heard two shots and I ran inside."
Police say Flores was in possession of a .38 caliber revolver, and shot Naverette twice through his car window. The two shots hit the victim, once in the head and once in the stomach. As Naverette fell to the ground, Farrell said, Flores exited his car and shot Naverette one last time.
Flores then fled the scene, according to police, and drove back to his Amityville home. Then, leaving his car behind, he traveled to Copiague, where the Homicide Squad, assisted by the Nassau County Bureau of Special Operations and officers of the Suffolk County Police Department's Emergency Services Unit, arrested him outside the South Bay Motel on Montauk Highway.
Flores was found guilty of second-degree murder, one count each of second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence.
A spokesman for Rumba Sky, the popular Hempstead nightclub that Naverette owned along with three friends, said that Naverette was sorely missed. "He was a great guy, and a good father," said the spokesman.
According to police, Naverette left behind two children.
Flores will be sentenced on Monday, Dec. 6, by Nassau County Court Judge Jeffrey Brown.
Comments about this story? JBurke@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
