After Attempted Murder Of 2 Police Officers On LI, Man Gets 20 Years In Prison: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Middle Island man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after attempting to murder two Suffolk County police officers, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Brandon Scanlon, 34, was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision; he pleaded guilty in August to second-degree attempted murder and related charges, after firing multiple shots at members of the Suffolk County Police Department.

According to the investigation, in September, 2023, a probe was launched by members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force into the sale of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the county, the DA said.

On April 4, 2024, as part of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residential apartment located in Bohemia; it was determined that Scanlon used the apartment as a "stash house" to store and sell cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine, Tierney said.

When law enforcement approached Scanlon near the apartment, he retreated into a vehicle carrying a black duffle bag and fled the location, the DA said. During his flight, Scanlon struck a member of law enforcement twice with his minivan as he drove away from the apartment complex; the officer suffered serious injuries and had to be treated at a local hospital, Tierney said.

Scanlon then led law enforcement on an extended vehicle pursuit through multiple towns in Suffolk County, the DA said. During that pursuit, Scanlon repeatedly opened fire on officers with his weapon as they attempted to pull him over, Tierney said.

No officers were struck during the shooting, the DA said.

Scanlon eventually crashed his vehicle on the Sunrise Highway service road in Bay Shore, where he was finally arrested, the DA said. Inside Scanlon’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered the .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol used to shoot at law enforcement as well as cocaine and fentanyl, Tierney said. He was arrested at the scene and arraigned on the indictment on August 14, 2024, Tierney said.

On August 19, 2025, Scanlon pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro to second degree attempted murder, a Class B violent felony; second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; a Class C violent felony; and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class B felony, the DA said.

On Thursday, Scanlon was sentenced; he was represented by Ian Fitzgerald, who was not immediately available for comment.

"This significant sentence reflects the serious nature of these crimes," Tierney said. "The defendant’s reckless actions — fleeing police, discharging a firearm at officers, and possessing illegal weapons and controlled substances — endangered lives and terrorized our community."

He added: "I commend the brave officers who risked their lives to apprehend this dangerous individual, and I am thankful for their quick thinking and professionalism prevented what could have been a tragedy."

Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association President Louis Civello added: "This is another instance of someone trying to murder a Suffolk County police officer. . . . Our police are out there every day risking their lives and they feel abandoned. . .He had every intent of putting that officer in the grave."