BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR AMBUSH SHOOTINGS THAT WOUNDED NYPD OFFICER

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR AMBUSH SHOOTINGS THAT WOUNDED NYPD OFFICER

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder in 1st Degree;

Shot at Two Cops in Van, Opened Fire Inside Stationhouse

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of Attempted Murder in the first degree, for two incidents on a February 2020, weekend in which he shot at NYPD officers. He unleashed a fusillade of bullets in his mission to kill cops. I commend the officers who used tremendous restraint. Now the defendant will serve a lengthy prison term for attacking those who put their lives on the line every day.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Robert Williams, 45, of Evergreen Avenue, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio to 23 years to life in prison on each of two counts of Attempted Murder in the first degree. The sentences will run concurrently. Williams pleaded guilty on August 31, 2023.

According to the investigation, at approximately 8:30 p.m. on February 8, 2020 at 906 Simpson Street, the defendant allegedly walked up to a marked NYPD van and briefly engaged in a conversation with two officers. Williams allegedly took out a gun and fired at the two cops, striking one of them. The officer sustained injuries to his chin and neck.

According to the investigation, at approximately 7:45 a.m. on February 9, 2020, the defendant entered the main area of the 41st Precinct stationhouse and allegedly shot at five NYPD Police Officers, one Lieutenant and one Sergeant. One of the shots Williams fired struck the Lieutenant in his right arm.

Williams then entered a side room in the precinct and shot at a Sergeant, a Police Officer and a civilian employee who worked there. When the defendant ran out of bullets he began to walk towards the exit of the precinct. Police opened fire at Williams and the defendant threw himself to the ground and tossed the gun to cops. The defendant, who was not shot, was taken into custody at the scene.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Burim Namani, Senior Counsel in the Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Christine Scaccia, Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and under the overall supervision of James Brennan, Deputy Chief of the Trial Division, and Theresa Gottlieb, Chief of the Trial Division.

District Attorney Clark thanked the 41st Precinct, specifically NYPD Detectives Gregory Casvikes and Lawrence Sanchez, for their assistance in the case. District Attorney Clark thanked the Bronx Homicide Squad, specifically Detectives Sean Butler (retired) and Keith Walker (retired), for their assistance. District Attorney Clark also thanked all Bronx NYPD officers who responded to the scene.