United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, alongside New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, announced that Karl Smith and Chelsey Harris have pled guilty in connection to a shooting that resulted in the death of Clarisa Burgos, an innocent bystander. Harris entered her guilty plea on June 26, 2025, with sentencing scheduled for November 6, 2025. Smith pled guilty recently and will be sentenced on December 8, 2025. Two other individuals involved in the case, Dajahn McBean and Julissa Bartholomew, await trial.
“Karl Smith and Chelsey Harris participated in an elaborate plot to murder their victim,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “During one of those shootings, an innocent bystander, Clarisa Burgos, was tragically killed.” He emphasized the commitment to making streets safer and fighting against gun crime.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch remarked on the calculated nature of the crime: “This wasn’t random gunfire – it was a calculated plot to carry out a murder on New York City streets.”
The court filings reveal that in December 2023, while detained at MDC Brooklyn awaiting sentencing for another gang-related shooting from January 2017, McBean used a contraband cellphone to conspire with Smith and Harris to lure Victim-1 to nightclubs across New York City where attempts were made on Victim-1’s life.
The conspiracy led to two shootings in December 2023. On December 24th outside Club-1 in Queens, gunmen missed Victim-1 but struck his car multiple times. A second attempt occurred on December 26th outside Club-2 in Queens where bullets hit Victim-1’s car again; this time hitting Victim-1 but also killing Clarisa Burgos who was inside the vehicle.
Smith of Queens and Harris from the Bronx each pled guilty to charges related to stalking resulting in life-threatening injury or death carrying maximum sentences up-to-life imprisonment terms prescribed by Congress with final sentences determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton commended various law enforcement agencies including U.S Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force along with Homeland Security Investigations’ El Dorado Task Force assisting investigations handled under Violent & Organized Crime Unit led prosecution team comprising Assistant U.S Attorneys Ryan W Allison Andrew Chan Dominic Gentile Timothy Ly.
