20-year-old accused in Mount Vernon murder

? Police announced Monday that 20-year-old Vetal Bonhomme has been charged with the Jan. 6 deadly shooting of Paul Laing. Twenty-seven-year-old Laing died in a hail of bullets at Fourth Street and Fourth

News 12 Staff

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Jan 26, 2009, 11:49 PM

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Updated 5,812 days ago

? Police announced Monday that 20-year-old Vetal Bonhomme has been charged with the Jan. 6 deadly shooting of Paul Laing.

Twenty-seven-year-old Laing died in a hail of bullets at Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue in Mount Vernon, in what police say could have been the end result of a fight over crack cocaine.

Two weeks after the murder, detectives arrested Bonhomme, who was previously arrested 11 times and wanted for other crimes, including narcotics and probation violation.

Police Commissioner David Chong says good old fashioned detective work and a lot of door knocking lead to the arrest.

?It should send a strong message to anyone who wants to commit a crime that we have a high clearance rate,? says Chong.

Police say Bonhomme and Laing allegedly knew each other and are investigating whether the shooting was gang related.

Mayor Clinton Young is urging others to make better choices in life.

?I ask the young people, especially the young black men, to use your senses, look around you, your destiny, before you destroy your life and that of your loves ones,? says Young.

Bonhomme is being held at the county jail and has been charged with murder in the second degree. He is facing 25 years to life in prison.