Man Who Shot, Paralyzed NYC Neighbor Gets Sentenced, Prosecutor Says

EAST HARLEM, NY — A 37-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years in state prison for shooting his East Harlem neighbor after she reported him to police for suspected domestic violence, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

Avery Dunning was convicted in June of attempted murder, assault, and weapons possession for the February 2023 shooting, prosecutors said.

The shooting happened inside an apartment on the sixth floor of a building at 60 East 135th St., part of the Lincoln NYCHA development, police said.

Prosecutors said Dunning shot a 41-year-old woman multiple times after she and her husband confronted him about alleged abuse.

The victim survived but was left paralyzed and remains under constant medical care, according to prosecutors.

After the shooting, Dunning fled and evaded arrest for nearly 10 months before being caught in December 2023 with a fake ID.

"This callous act of gun violence has had devastating, lifelong consequences for the victim and her family," Bragg said.

"The victim rightfully contacted law enforcement when she believed she heard violence occurring, and her actions in no way should have been met with violence. My thoughts remain with the victim and her family as they continue to recover from the reeling effects of this horrific act of gun violence."

Victims of domestic violence and people who may be at risk can contact the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). For emergencies, call 911.

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