Nassau Man Gets 25 To Life For Trying To Kill Officers

UNIONDALE, NY — A Uniondale man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison today for the attempted murder of four Nassau County police officers at a traffic stop in 2018.

Duane Costa, 40, was convicted on Dec. 16, 2021 of four counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

“Duane Costa fired at least two rounds directly at officers’ heads from less than 10 feet away as they pursued him down the streets of Hempstead and he continued firing as additional officers joined the chase,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Police officers around the country put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe, knowing that it could mean they don’t return home to their families. I will always support our police, and when there is violence against a member of law enforcement we will ensure that the defendant is held responsible for their crimes.”

According to Donnelly, around 12:45 a.m. on Oct. 28, 2018, Costa's car was stopped by two Nassau County police officers at Midwood Street and Lafayette Avenue in Hempstead for failing to signal a left turn. The officers smelled alcohol and saw that Costa was not wearing a seatbelt. They saw him adjust something on his waistband, and the officers ordered him out of the car.

Costa got out of the car, pushed past the officers and ran. He reached toward his waist and a .40 caliber pistol fell to the ground. He then pulled out another handgun and fired multiple rounds at the officers as he fled. As he rounded a corner, he came face-to-face with two other officers, who were nearby for a separate incident.

Costa fired more shots at those other officers, and then continued running. Members of the Nassau and Hempstead police departments set up a perimeter around the area, and Costa was found a short time later in the yard of a home on Meriam Street.

Both of the handguns were recovered, and no one was injured during the shooting. None of the officers fired their weapons.