In December 2022, a gambling-related incident occurred at a pool hall in Port Jefferson, New York. A 27-year-old Bronx man opened fire on two people after losing money in a game. Following the incident, he was arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Responsibility for the Violence
Following an investigation, the perpetrator was arrested in February 2023. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office announced that the man, identified only by the initials A.S., was convicted of multiple crimes. On August 23, a jury presided over by Superior Court Judge Richard Ambro found him guilty of three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, three counts of use of a firearm, attempted robbery, four assaults and one count of petty larceny.
Almost all of the crimes were felonies, except for petty larceny, which was classified as a misdemeanor. The 27-year-old man was sentenced to 18 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
“We want the community to know that violent criminals will be held accountable for their actions,” said Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. He added that the offender was trying to solve a financial problem with a gun, but will now spend 18 years in prison.
Attempted robbery results in injuries
The incident occurred on December 28, 2022. The man began losing significant amounts of money while betting on pool games. He eventually left the room, but soon returned with a firearm and a mask. The gunman attempted to return the money he had lost, which led to a fight that continued outside the establishment.
During the scuffle, one of the victims attempted to disarm the man, but was unsuccessful. The gunman broke free and opened fire, hitting one man in the groin and the other in the chest. Both victims survived but were seriously injured.
Despite attempting to escape, the man was arrested several months later in Manhattan by Suffolk County police on February 10, 2023