NORTH AMITYVILLE, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A Long Island man was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison on Thursday after he pleaded guilty in February to the attempted murder of a Suffolk County Police Officer.
Jayvon Bell, 21, pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder of a police officer and first-degree attempted robbery, both felonies, as well as second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor.
According to court documents and the defendant's plea, a taxi driver responded to the North Amityville area on May 10, 2023, to pick up a passenger.
Bell entered the back seat of the taxi and cocked what appeared to be a handgun. He then pointed it at the driver's head and demanded money before snatching about $150 and fleeing the cab.
Weeks later, on June 3, Bell became engaged in a dispute with an employee at a Bolla Market in Lindenhurst after he refused to pay for a soda.
Prosecutors said that Bell told the worker he had a gun as he began to exit the store. He then removed what appeared to be a handgun from his pocket and tapped it on the store window while threatening the employee.
Several weeks after that incident, on June 21, Bell was spotted by Suffolk County officers while walking northbound on Albany Avenue toward Route 109 in East Farmingdale.
Bell was wanted for the prior robbery and menacing incidents, and the officers pursued him on foot.
The chase led Bell to the back of a residence on Maple Road in North Amityville, at which point he turned his back against a fence and pointed a gun.
Once the officers arrived in the backyard, Bell fired off one shot, which missed and hit a fence. One of the officers shot back, striking Bell.
Bell was arrested, received aid and was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Prosecutors said that law enforcement recovered the black handgun that Bell used to shoot at the officers, and video footage of the incident from the residence where the shooting occurred.
Police bodycam footage also showed Bell pointing a handgun at the officers.
"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," Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said. "In Suffolk County we take law enforcement officer safety seriously and prosecute vigorously."
