Teen Sentenced In UWS Peephole Shooting That Blinded Woman: DA

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A teenager was sentenced to prison on Wednesday for shooting a woman in the eye through the peephole of her door on the Upper West Side, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced.

The woman's 1-year-old twins were also home at the time of the shooting.

Antjuan Smith, 19, was sentenced to 15-years in prison after being found guilty of attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, the D.A. said.

The woman survived the near point blank shooting to the face, but subsequently lost all vision in one of her eyes, the D.A. said.

"Antjuan Smith’s actions were calculated and posed a threat to the victim’s children," District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. "This is an extremely serious matter that has forever altered her life through the loss of eyesight. We will not allow guns to be used to terrorize innocent New Yorkers who are simply trying to go about their lives and care for their children"

Smith was part of a crew that operated at the Douglass Houses near West 102nd Street and Columbus, and on the night of Nov. 1, 2021, he visited the woman's apartment to "prevent the victim and her family from cooperating with law enforcement," the D.A. said.

The woman looked out her peephole after a knock on the door and Smith fired a single shot, striking her in the left eye, the D.A. said.

Bragg gave special thanks to the Upper West Side's 24th Precinct for their help with the case.