Guilty plea in 2020 murder; 'It's hard to get along without our father,' victim's son says
An Elmira man who is already in state prison following a burglary conviction pleaded guilty to murder Friday in connection with a 2020 home invasion robbery and shooting death.
Less than two weeks before Eugene Cade, 33, was scheduled to go to trial for the murder of 39-year-old Ramonn S. Driscoll, of Elmira, Cade pleaded guilty in Chemung County Court to one count of second-degree murder.
A family that has waited nearly two years for justice finally has some closure, said Driscoll's father, Daron Driscoll Sr.
"I'm burned out. We talk about this every day," the elder Driscoll said. "(Cade) just paid man's dues. He hasn't paid God's law yet. I'm glad they got him off the street. If he was still on the streets, he would do it again."
A year after Driscoll's murder, a Chemung County grand jury indicted Cade on the murder charge and a count of first-degree burglary.
An accomplice, Cooper Graham Jr., who was a juvenile at the time of the shooting, was indicted for murder, along with robbery, burglary and criminal possession of a weapon charges. He also recently pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Around 2:30 a.m. Sept. 14, 2020, the Elmira Police Department responded to a residence in the 600 block of Taylor Street for a report of a gunshot victim.
Arriving officers located a male, later identified as Driscoll, inside the residence with at least one gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel attempted life-saving measures, but Driscoll died at the scene, police said.
Driscoll's girlfriend, Abigail Vanderhoef, and an infant were also present, but were unharmed.
Cade and Graham tied Driscoll and Vanderhoef up and made them lie face down on the floor while searching the apartment for valuables, according to Chemung County District Attorney Weeden Wetmore.
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After the robbery and shooting, the suspects fled the scene in Ramonn Driscoll's car, which was later located on Alexander Place.
A few months before Driscoll's murder, Elmira police investigated reports of a robbery in the 300 block of Brand Street in the city. Police charged Cade with first-degree robbery following that incident.
Police Chief Anthony Alvernaz confirmed Cade, who also had previous convictions for burglary and criminal sale of a controlled substance, was free on bail at the time of Driscoll's murder.
Cade was later convicted on the burglary charge and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is incarcerated at Five Points Correctional Facility in Romulus.
Under the plea agreement, Cade will serve 20 years to life on the murder conviction, which will be served concurrently with the remainder of the burglary sentence, Wetmore said. He also agreed to waive his right to an appeal.
Sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 26. Graham will be sentenced Aug. 11.
Ramonn Driscoll's son, Lisandro, 12, said he's glad the perpetrators will be punished, but he admits it hasn't been easy getting by without his father.
"It's been hard. I have to take care of my sister," Lisandro said. "It's hard to get along without our father. I'm glad (Cade and Graham) will be gone."
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Elmira man pleads guilty to murder for home invasion, shooting death
