County Legislator James Nolan, left, with his brother Michael Nolan
By Dan Murphy
September 18 of this year will mark the 10th anniversary of the murder of Mike Nolan. Nolan, a star pitcher from Yonkers who was just drafted by the Oakland A’s at the time of his death, was shot and killed in the Burger King parking lot in Yonkers.
One of the four individuals involved in Nolan’s death, Tejmitra Singh, is up for parole. Mike Nolan’s brother, Westchester County Legislator James Nolan, has sponsored an online petition to keep Singh behind bars.
The petition reads:
On September 18, 2015, my brother Michael Nolan was tragically gunned down in a Burger King parking lot. He was an innocent bystander caught in a senseless act of violence with an illegal gun. His murderers tore our family apart, leaving a void that can never truly be filled. One of the individuals responsible for this horrific crime is Tejmitra Singh, who was found guilty of planning the shooting that ended my brother’s life.
Tejmitra Singh was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the murder of my brother. Despite this, New York State’s criminal law permits individuals to seek early release after serving 80% of their sentence based on ‘good behavior.’ This means Tejmitra Singh could soon be eligible for parole as early as October, a possibility that deeply concerns many.
Tejmitra Singh is a violent criminal who played a pivotal role in orchestrating the murder of my innocent brother. Granting him early release would not only undermine the justice served for Michael but also pose a potential threat to the community at large. It sends a dangerous message that those who partake in heinous crimes can cut their sentences short without facing the full consequences.
Giving “good behavior” precedence over justice and accountability in such serious cases is troubling. Michael Nolan was robbed of his future due to the actions of individuals like Singh, and it is unjust to allow them a shortened sentence at the cost of victims’ families’ peace and security. Michael was unfortunately not allowed to come back after serving 80 percent of his time. Singh should serve every single day that he is supposed to be behind bars.
We call upon the New York State Parole Board to consider the severity of Singh’s crime and deny any possibility of an early release. Michael deserves justice, and our community deserves safety. Please stand with us and sign this petition to ensure he serves his full sentence and does not get out on parole. Your signature can make a difference in honoring Michael’s memory and maintaining justice.
Nolan said that more than 2,000 residents have signed the petition. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has signed and shared it. The support has been overwhelming. We are truly grateful. I want to keep this momentum going. If you could help us continue this effort, it would mean so much! Thank you!”
Emails of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Governor Kathy Hochul are also on the petition link, https://www.change.org/p/deny-parole-for-tejmitra-singh-convicted-murderer.
“I frequently receive questions from those unfamiliar with my background about what inspired me to enter politics. The answer is simple: my brother Michael’s horrific murder drove me to run for office. I’m also often asked why I confront the Governor and the Democrats who back pro-criminal laws. The reason is clear — four criminals are responsible for the brutal murder of my innocent brother.
“I’ve taken similar action against the other two perpetrators involved: Garth Cole, the driver and informant, and Darren Dawson, the one who supplied the gun. Unfortunately, due to the pro-criminal laws pushed by Governor Hochul and the Democrats, my requests to keep these criminals behind bars for their whole sentences have been denied, but I will continue to try.
“I understand the deep betrayal that comes from those who allow such injustice to occur through laws that transform innocent victims into casualties. It’s time to call out those who advocate for pro-criminal policies and vote them out. They do not care about the innocent and the good; they only care about their own agendas,” said Nolan, who serves as the only republican member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators. He has been a staunch supporter of law enforcement efforts to combat crime.
Nolan has proposed to amend the Immigrant Protection Act in Westchester, which was signed into law in 2018, and restricts the use of local law enforcement to assist in federal immigration investigations.
Nolan has proposed an amendment that would allow local law enforcement to work with ICE to detain and deport criminal illegal residents in Westchester. This individual is set to have his parole hearing this October, and I will not stand idly by.
After a recent NYC shooting that resulted in the death of an NYPD officer and three innocent civilians, Nolan and Legislator Catherine Parker exchanged words online.
Parker referenced the need for additional gun control measures after the shooter attacked people in a Manhattan office building with a semi-automatic rifle. When referencing republicans’ overall objections to more gun control, someone posted, “it won’t be until one of their loved ones is a victim,” that republicans will support gun control.
Parker then posted, “sadly, not even that is true, just ask James Nolan.”
Nolan asked Parker to apologize for bringing his brother’s murder into the debate on gun control. Parker refused. “I was prepared to let it go until Legislator Catherine Parker, one of my colleagues, decided to take to Facebook to reference my effort and then referenced my brother Michael’s murder, which occurred ten years ago this year, due to a 17-year-old criminal with an illegal gun. She made it both political and personal. It is reprehensible that Legislator Catherine Parker used the most tragic moment of my life to attack me. I am calling for a public apology from Legislator Catherine Parker, and I urge both the Westchester County Board of Legislators and the Westchester County Majority Caucus to condemn her comments publicly,” said Nolan.
We agree with Nolan that his brother’s unfortunate death should not be used as a political tool against him or anyone.
I interviewed Mike Nolan just before his death. He was excited to begin his career as a Major League pitcher, and his family and sports fans from Yonkers were looking forward to following his success.
One misconception about his death, in my view, is that nobody should be killed for “hanging out” in a Burger King parking lot. I used to hang out in parking lots as a teenager with friends, drinking a few beers.
And for those who escalated this dispute into gunshots and death, they should pay the price, the full price of their actions, and serve their entire sentence.
