(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Nayshawn James of Wyandanch was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty in October to one count of Assault in the First Degree, one count of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for his role in a shooting outside of Wyandanch Memorial High School that left one individual with serious injuries.
“This defendant opened fire just outside school grounds during a crowded dismissal, striking the victim in the face,” said District Attorney Tierney. “His actions put dozens of innocent schoolchildren at risk, and it is fortunate that no one else was injured or killed by his wonton acts.”
According to the investigation, on October 29, 2021, the defendant engaged others in a verbal dispute while armed with an illegal loaded pistol. He shot at the unarmed victim multiple times, striking him in the face with one of the shots. The victim was taken to a local area hospital for treatment of his serious physical injuries, where he spent approximately seven weeks recovering.
After a lengthy investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department, James, 21, was arrested on April 27, 2022 and he was subsequently indicted by a grand jury. The defendant pleaded guilty on October 31, 2022 to one count of Assault in the First Degree, one count of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree before the Honorable Steven A. Pilweski. Our recommendation on the charges was 13 years. On December 19, 2022 the defendant was sentenced to eight years in prison by County Court Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Steven A. Pilweski. The defendant was represented by Brad Leventhal, Esq.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney William L. Richards III of the Major Crime Bureau.