A Hempstead man has been convicted of murder in the death of a man who intervened during a robbery attempt at a Hempstead restaurant in 2022, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced on Thursday.

Deshawn Martin, 28, was found guilty of 12 felonies, including murder in the first degree and six counts of robbery in the first degree, along with menacing in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

According to Nassau County Police, Martin shot and killed Salvadoran immigrant Santos Argueta, 49, before rifling through his pockets and stealing his cellphone after the man attempted to stop Martin from robbing Antojitos Express, a restaurant located in Hempstead Village.

"Deshawn Martin did the unthinkable, putting the barrel of his gun to Santos Valeriano Argueta’s chest and pulling the trigger after the husband and father heroically intervened when this defendant repeatedly and mercilessly pistol-whipped another man in the restaurant he was trying to rob," Donnelly stated in a news release.

Martin was also found guilty of committing two robberies taking place around three hours apart from each other on Feb. 3, 2022, just four days after the shooting.

He was additionally convicted on three robbery charges that took place across the townships of Hicksville and Oyster Bay in October 2021.

Martin was arrested on Feb. 9, 2022, in Freeport, according to the Nassau County District Attorney.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his trial beginning on May 5, 2025. The jury deliberated for four hours before reaching their verdict.

Martin will be facing a maximum of life in prison without parole at his sentencing on July 21, 2025.

"This defendant is nothing more than a cold-blooded killer and a true career criminal, holding up several other Nassau stores three months before he murdered Santos in Hempstead and picking up an additional arrest for robbery in Florida in the time between," Donnelly stated.

Martin’s Attorney, Fred Pollack could not be reached for comment.