Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Jayvon Bell, 21, of Amityville, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty in February to Attempted Murder in the First Degree and other related charges for shooting at a Suffolk County Police Officer in June 2023.
“This case is a constant reminder that every time the men and women in our police force leave their homes and families to go to work, they genuinely do not know if they will make it back home after their shifts,” said District Attorney Tierney. “In Suffolk County we take law enforcement officer safety seriously and prosecute vigorously. We extend our gratitude to the SCPD officers in this case who did a great job despite the risk to their personal safety.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s statements during his guilty plea allocution, on May 10, 2023, a taxi driver responded to the North Amityville area to pick up a passenger. When the driver arrived, Bell entered the rear seat of the taxi. Bell allegedly then cocked what appeared to be a handgun, pointed it at the driver’s head, and demanded money from the driver. Bell stole approximately $150 from the driver before exiting the cab and fleeing.
On June 3, 2023, Bell was at a Bolla Market in Lindenhurst when a dispute with an employee began after Bell refused to pay for a soda. Bell allegedly informed the employee that he had a gun and began to leave the store.
Before leaving the premises, Bell took what appeared to be a handgun out of his pocket and tapped it on the window of the store while threatening the employee.
On June 21, 2023, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Suffolk County Police Officers spotted Bell, who was wanted for the prior robbery and menacing, walking northbound on Albany Avenue toward Route 109 in East Farmingdale. Bell then fled and a foot pursuit was initiated that led officers into the rear of a residence located on Maple Road in North Amityville. When officers arrived in the backyard, Bell was standing with his back against a fence and holding a black handgun pointed directly at the officers. Bell then fired a shot at one of the officers which missed and struck a fence. One officer then returned fire, striking Bell. Bell was then arrested, rendered first aid, and transported to Stony Brook University Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Law enforcement recovered the black handgun used by Bell to shoot at the officers, as well as video surveillance from the residence where the shooting occurred. Additionally, police body worn camera footage captured Bell pointing the handgun directly at the officers.
On February 14, 2024, Bell pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. to:
- One count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree of a Police Officer, a Class A felony;
- One count of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony; and
- One count of Menacing in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
On April 4, 2024, Justice Senft sentenced Bell to 20 years to life in prison. He was represented by Joe Hanshe, Esq.
This case was prosecuted by Bureau Chief Timothy Gough, Assistant District Attorney Eric
S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Kieran Rogers of the Major Crime Bureau with investigative assistance from Detectives Sergeant Ron Leli and Walter Sosnowski of the Suffolk County Homicide Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.