NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Queens man was convicted of attempted murder for shooting an NYPD Detective after an altercation in 2023, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Wednesday.
Devin Spraggins, 24, was convicted of assault, aggravated assault of a police officer, and assault of a police officer, attempted assault and menacing a police officer pertaining and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, tampering with physical evidence, and assault.
On April 5, 2023, Devin Spraggins punched a passenger aboard an MTA bus on Jamaica Avenue, according to court documents.
The bus driver flagged down NYPD Detective Brett Boller and his partner, Officer Anthony Rock. Both officers were patrolling the Jamaica business district.
When the officers confronted Spraggins at the front door of the bus, he pushed Boller and ran away.
The officers chased Spraggins on foot. During the pursuit, Spraggins turned toward them, drew his gun, and dropped a loaded magazine onto Jamaica Avenue. He kept running before turning and shooting Boller. The bullet struck Boller’s upper thigh, piercing his femoral artery and shattering his hip, according to prosecutors.
Spraggins attempted to fire again, but the gun was empty as he had dropped the magazine earlier. Moments later, he racked the slide of his gun, aimed at Rock in a shooter’s stance, and then fled into a parking garage. Surveillance footage showed him removing his black jacket and sweatshirt, leaving in a white T-shirt.
Police later found a shell casing near the scene and a magazine loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition at the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 161st Street. Security footage captured Spraggins getting into a black Nissan Lyft vehicle at 161st Street and Hillside Avenue, which took him to a residence on 215th Street.
A search warrant executed at the property the next day led police to an address in the Bronx, where Spraggins was arrested.
Boller, 22 at the time, underwent surgery at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and has since returned to modified duty. He was promoted to detective last month.
Rock, also 22 at the time, was not injured in the incident.
Spraggins faces up to 40 years to life in prison for the attempted murder charge and will be sentenced on Dec. 2.
“Justice was served, and I thank my prosecutors and the members of the New York City Police Department who helped secure this trial conviction,” Katz said.