Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Roosevelt man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempted murder and other charges related to a shooting outside a house party in Uniondale in of July 2017.

 

Ahkhazyah Wright, 19, was convicted by a jury before Judge Robert McDonald on June 18 of three counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony), two Counts of Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C felony).

 

“This defendant’s violent outburst could have killed his innocent victims, and his reckless conduct left them with permanent injuries,” DA Singas said. “This lengthy prison term ensures that he will pay a heavy price for the physical and emotional injuries he caused.”

 

DA Singas said that on July 23, 2017, at approximately 2:40 am at a party at 187 Maple Avenue in Uniondale, an 18-year-old woman entered the bathroom when the defendant also entered. The woman then called for help.

 

Three young men inside the house, including close friends then 20-year old Kyle Richard, 19-year-old Sulaiman Ania, and 19-year-old Jewell Stewart heard the woman’s cries for help, opened the bathroom door, and forced the defendant from the house.

 

A few minutes later the defendant was observed on the front porch of the house. He was confronted and fired a handgun multiple times hitting Kyle Richard in both legs.

 

Approximately one minute later a car returned to the house, unaware of the shooting that just occurred when Wright opened fire again multiple times. A bullet struck Michael Abiola in the back and lodged in his arm.

 

The defendant then fled the scene and witnesses called 911.

 

Following an investigation, the defendant was arrested the next day by Nassau County Police Department Detectives who found him at his father’s home in Roosevelt, hiding in a closet under a pile of clothing.

 

Abiola and Richard continue to suffer from their injuries. Richard was later honored by former Vice President Joe Biden with the Biden Courage Award for his part in stopping the assault.

 

The defendant was acquitted of one count of Attempted Murder and one count of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

 

Assistant District Attorney Emma Slane of DA Singas’ Special Victims Bureau and Deputy Bureau Chief Jared Rosenblatt of the Major Offense Bureau are prosecuting this case. Robert Schalk, Esq. represents the defendant.