Nassau Man Gets 20 To Life For Attacking, Robbing Housemate

HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Hempstead man was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison today for attacking and robbing a housemate in 2020.

Johnny Shorter, 42, was convicted on April 11 of two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of menacing a police officer. He was found not guilty of a charge of criminal obstruction of breathing.

“Johnny Shorter broke into a woman’s locked bedroom while she was sleeping and violently assaulted and robbed her at gunpoint,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Shorter’s brave victim lured him outside and, after a foot pursuit with a gun drawn and pointed at police officers, he was taken into custody. Nassau County Police Department officers were able to arrest Shorter successfully and safely, and he was ultimately convicted of these crimes. I thank our prosecutors and the members of the NCPD and Hempstead Police Department for holding this violent defendant accountable.”

Shorter was renting a room in a home in Hempstead. According to Donnelly, around 11 a.m. on Oct. 11, 2020, he entered the locked bedroom of another person who lived there while she was sleeping, held her at gunpoint and demanded money that he claimed she had stolen from him.

Shorter stole credit cards, cash and other items from the woman's purse. He then shoved the barrel of his loaded gun into her mouth, pistol-whipped her and continued to demanding money.

In an effort to get help, the woman told Shorter she had money in her car and convinced him to leave the home. Once they were outside, a neighbor heard what was happening and called the police.

Shorter ran from the scene with the gun and was chased by police. He pointed the gun at two officers, but shot himself in the leg before police arrested him.