BRONX MAN CONVICTED OF THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER, ROBBERY, ASSAULT AND OTHER OFFENSES IN CONNECTION WITH THE BRUTAL BEATING OF A WOMAN AND CARJACKING OF A LIVERY CAB

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the conviction of a 26 year old career criminal who commandeered a livery cab and shot at a police officer after brutally beating a woman whom he followed out of a bodega.

Michael Ricco, of 175 Field Place, the Bronx, was found guilty of one count of Attempted Murder in the 1st degree, two counts of Attempted Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer, six counts of Criminal Possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree, one count of Unlawful Imprisonment in the 1st degree, one count of Robbery in the 1st degree and one count of Assault in the 2nd degree.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Megan Tallmer set sentencing for Friday, November 8, 2002 in Trial Part 22. Ricco is facing a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment and a minimum sentence of up to 65 years imprisonment if the judge orders the sentences on each offense to run consecutively.

The series of crimes of which Ricco was convicted occurred on September 29, 2000 barely two weeks after Ricco was paroled after serving seven years on an assault conviction in Manhattan and a robbery conviction in the Bronx.

The incident began when Ricco followed 47 year old Yolanda DeJesus out of a bodega on East 166 Street between Sheridan and Sherman Avenues and attempted to rob her at gunpoint. When DeJesus resisted the defendant’s attempt to force her off the street into an apartment building, Ricco began beating her with the butt of his handgun. DeJesus fell to the ground where Ricco grabbed her throat after kicking her. When other people in the area attempted to help DeJesus, Ricco grabbed the victim’s two handbags and fled, after pointing his gun at the Good Samaritans and threatening to shoot them. DeJesus suffered bruising and swelling around her head, face and back. In addition, her finger nails were ripped out and bleeding. Ricco commandeered a livery cab in an effort to escape but the 47 year old driver, Raymond Santiago, drove through a red light to get the attention of a passing NYPD patrol car. Ricco bolted from the cab at 167th Street and Morris Avenue and started running again, pursued by Police Officers Shawn Gibson, 29, and Bart Papcinski, 33, as well as several civilians. During the chase the defendant turned, pointed his gun first at Officer Papcinski and then at Officer Gibson. Ricco fired a single shot at Officer Gibson who was not injured. Ricco was wounded and apprehended when Gibson returned fire.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Pamela Pannes and Kathleen Hasselback.