(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Paulin Cerisier, 29, of Pennsylvania, was found guilty after a jury trial of Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges, for fatally shooting Maresse Dickerson-Stevenson, 41, of Amityville.
“This was a cold-blooded, unprovoked attack on an innocent man at a backyard party,” said District Attorney Tierney. “With this verdict, justice has now been served. I thank the jury, law enforcement, and our prosecution team for their diligent work in securing this outcome.”
The evidence at trial established that on July 18, 2021, at approximately 2:50 a.m., Cerisier drove to Amityville and entered a backyard party. Cerisier then approached the victim, his ex-girlfriend’s uncle, and without provocation, shot him in the left shoulder before fleeing the scene. The victim was pronounced dead a short time later.
On July 15, 2024, members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad arrested Cerisier at a hotel in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
On June 11 2025, Cerisier was found guilty of the following charges after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei:
• One count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony; and
• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C felonies.
Cerisier is due back in court for sentencing on July 15, 2025, and faces up to 25 years to life in prison. He is being represented by Matt Tuohy, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Dena Rizopoulos of the Homicide Bureau and Raquel Tisi of the Narcotics Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Walter Sosnowski and David Gelsomino of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
