A gunman who shot and injured a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer was censured by a judge and sentenced to decades in prison on Monday.
Devin Spraggins, 24, was convicted of attempted murder in April 2023 after firing at a police officer on a city bus. During an altercation with a passenger on the bus, Spraggins injured Officer Brett Bowler, who had entered the bus to respond to the altercation.
FOX 5 New York reported Monday that Spraggins was sentenced to 39 years in prison. In handing down the sentence, Judge Kenneth Holder criticized Spraggins while the gunman remained silent, according to the New York Post.
“For me, the defining moment in this case was not that you shot Officer Boler in the leg,” Holder said, according to the newspaper. “You did not know that the magazine had fallen out of the gun, and while you saw Officer Bohler on the ground screaming in pain, you pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger.”
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Devin Spraggins was sentenced Monday to 39 years in prison. (FOX5 New York)
“You effectively tried to execute him,” the judge added.
Holder also told Spraggins that Bohler and other NYPD officers are working around the clock to protect all New Yorkers, including criminals.
“And here's the irony,” the judge added. “On that day, and on any other day, Officer Bohler and Officer Locke would have risked their lives to save one of your four sisters, your brother, or even you. ”
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Police said the suspect, Devin Spraggins, was identified by a tattoo of the name “Jocelyn” on his hand. (New York City Police Department)
“But you tried to kill him. You didn't care about his life.”
Bohler had been a police officer for less than a year when he was shot in the right hip by Spraggins. After the shooting, Spraggins fled the scene in a lift, and Bohler was taken to hospital in stable condition.
New York authorities said the shooting began after Spraggins acted aggressively toward other passengers on the bus.
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Officials said the shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. in Queens, Jamaica, when an MTA driver dropped off two police officers and told them two men were involved in a fight over seats on the bus. It is said that it occurred later. (citizen app)
“He takes the bus. He says, “He takes the bus.” [a] The man sitting there: “Why are you staring at me?'' Please get up. '' NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said at the time that there was a shoving and altercation while the bus was in motion. ” he said. ”
Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.
