BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO A TERM OF UP TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER AND OTHER OFFENSES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 26 year old career criminal has been sentenced to a term of 45 years to life imprisonment for the attempted murder of a police officer and other crimes. Sentence was imposed by Acting State Supreme Court Justice Megan Tallmer.

Michael Ricco, of 175 Field Place, the Bronx, fired a single shot at the police officer during a chase following a robbery and the brutal beating of a woman. Ricco was found guilty last month of Attempted Murder in the 1st degree, Attempted Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree, Unlawful Imprisonment in the 1st degree, Robbery in the 1st degree and Assault in the 2nd degree.

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 samaritans and threatening to shoot them. 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 was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Pamela Pannes and Kathleen Hasselback.