BRONX MAN IS SENTENCED TO A TERM OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR THE MISTAKEN ATTEMPTED MURDERS OF THREE INNOCENT VICTIMS IN A GANG-RELATED SHOOTING

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that Jomo Delesline, 26, a “Cripps” gang member, has been sentenced to a term twenty-five years imprisonment for the attempted murders of three innocent victims in a shooting incident that he initiated in order to settle a dispute with members of a rival gang in February 2004.

Last month Delesline, of 281 East 143rd Street, the Bronx, was found guilty by a jury of three counts of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree in connection with the shootings, which occurred on February 10, 2004, in front of 610 Castle Hill Avenue. All three victims were innocent bystanders who were mistakenly believed to be “Bloods” gang members. They were 16, 17 and 21 years old when the incident occurred. Delesline was convicted of “acting in concert” with three accomplices.

State Supreme Court Justice David Stadtmauer sentenced Delesline to three concurrent terms of twenty-five years imprisonment for each count of attempted murder, meaning the defendant must serve a minimum of twenty-one years imprisonment before being considered for parole. Delesline must also serve five years post-release supervision. The People had asked for a term of sixty-five years imprisonment.

During the trial, witnesses testified that the defendant, armed with a .32 caliber handgun, confronted his intended target in front of a laundromat at 610 Castle Hill Avenue, placed a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The weapon, however, jammed and failed to discharge. Meanwhile, one of Delesline’s accomplices chased and shot the innocent bystanders, who had attempted to run to safety. One victim was shot twice in the back and was left paralyzed from the waist down. Another was shot once in the back of his heel, and the third victim was shot once in the back, twice in the legs. Police arrested Delesline a short time later when they spotted him leaving an apartment house at 2280 Randall Avenue, where the assailants had fled following the shootings. Delesline was the only one apprehended.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Lawrence Piergrossi and April Cohen.