Amityville Man Pleads Guilty Over Attempted Shooting Of Officer: DA

AMITYVILLE, NY —Jayvon Bell, 21, of Amityville, who shot at a Suffolk County police officer in June 2023, has pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder and other related charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Wednesday.

“Jayvon Bell showed complete disregard for human life when he shot at Suffolk County police officers,” Tierney said. “The officers risked their lives to apprehend the defendant who was wanted for robbery and menacing when the shooting occurred. Thankfully, these officers were not hit, but rather, they acted professionally and even rendered care to save this defendant after the incident.”

According to court documents and Bell’s statements during his guilty plea, on May 10, a taxi driver responded to the North Amityville area to pick up a passenger. When the taxi arrived, Bell entered the rear seat, cocked what appeared to be a handgun, pointed it at the driver’s head, and demanded money from the driver, prosecutors alleged. Bell stole about $150 from the driver before exiting the cab and fleeing, prosecutors said.

Then, on June 3, Bell was at a Bolla Market in Lindenhurst when a dispute with an employee began after Bell refused to pay for a soda, prosecutors said. Bell informed the employee that he had a gun and began to leave taking as he did so what appeared to be a handgun out of his pocket and tapping it on the window of the store while threatening the employee, prosecutors alleged.

At noon June 21, Suffolk County police officers spotted Bell, whom they were seeking for the prior robbery and menacing, walking north on Albany Avenue toward Route 109 in East Farmingdale.

Bell fled and a foot pursuit led officers into the rear of a residence located on Maple Road in North Amityville. When officers arrived in the backyard, Bell was standing with his back against a fence and holding a black handgun pointed directly at the officers.

Prosecutors said Bell then fired a shot at one of the officers, which missed and struck a fence. One officer then returned fire, striking Bell.

Bell was then arrested, rendered first aid, and transported to Stony Brook University Hospital to be treated for his injuries, prosecutors said.

Officers said they recovered the black handgun used by Bell, as well as video surveillance from the residence where the shooting occurred. Additionally, police body-worn camera footage captured Bell pointing the handgun directly at the officers, prosecutors said.

On February 14, Bell pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft to:

• One count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree of a Police Officer, a Class A felony
• One count of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony
• One count of Menacing in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor

Bell faces a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. He is due back in court for sentencing on April
4. He is being represented by Joe Hanshe. Patch reached out to Hanshe for comment.

This case is being prosecuted by Bureau Chief Timothy Gough, Assistant District Attorney Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Kieran Rogers of the Major Crime Bureau with investigative assistance from Detective Sergeant Ron Leli of the Suffolk County Homicide Squad and Detective Walter Sosnowski of the First Precinct.