DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE ANNOUNCES SENTENCING OF DANIEL ISRAEL IN 2007 FATAL SHOOTING

Defendant Convicted of Murdering One Person, Shooting Two Others, and Firing upon Two Police Officers

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the sentencing of DANIEL ISRAEL, 24, to 35 years to life in state prison for the 2007 murder of Warren Justin Dandridge. ISRAEL was also found guilty by a jury in New York State Supreme Court of shooting two others and firing upon two uniformed police officers in the vicinity of Schomburg Plaza, near the corner of Fifth Avenue and 110th Street in Manhattan.

“What began as a small dispute on a warm summer night escalated into deadly violence, with the defendant armed with an illegal gun,” said District Attorney Vance. “DANIEL ISRAEL fired at least seven times into a crowd, killing one person, striking two others, and firing at two police officers. I would like to thank those officers who put their lives at risk to stop the defendant from wreaking any more havoc. This is a tragedy for all involved, especially for the young girl who lost her father due to senseless gun violence.”

On December 20, 2010, a jury convicted ISRAEL of Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Assault in the First Degree Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree.

As proven at trial, on June 23, 2007 at approximately 12:30 a.m., Sgts. Sean Lynskey and Scott McKenna of the New York City Police Department’s Housing Bureau were driving along Fifth Avenue in a marked police van when they observed a crowd of between 20 and 30 people gathered between 110th and 111th Streets. A dispute had just broken out between a handful of individuals over a derogatory remark made to a woman passing by the group. As the officers approached ISRAEL, he removed a .45-caliber firearm from his waistband and, from a distance of no more than 30 inches, fired directly at Mr. Dandridge, striking him in the abdomen and leg. Mr. Dandridge, 26, a father and subway conductor employed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, was taken to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, where he died several hours later of his injuries.

As ISRAEL continued to fire at Mr. Dandridge, two other young men were also shot. One, who was struck in his arm, sustained serious injuries. The other victim was grazed in the chest. Both were treated at a hospital and eventually released.

The defendant also attempted to shoot the two officers, who repeatedly ordered him to drop his gun. ISRAEL ignored their commands, prompting the police to shoot him. He was struck in his torso and ankle, and was treated at the hospital for his injuries.

District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorney Jeanne Olivo, Senior Trial Counsel, and Assistant District Attorney Tiana Walton, both of Trial Bureau 50, for prosecuting the case. Trial Preparation Assistants Lenora Harris and Evelyn Vargas provided assistance, as did the District Attorney’s Office’s Investigations Bureau.

District Attorney Vance also thanked members of the New York City Police Department, including officers in the 23rd Precinct and Housing Bureau’s Public Service Area 5, especially Sgts. Lynskey and McKenna.



Defendant Information:

DANIEL ISRAEL, D.O.B. 10/01/1986
New York, NY

Convicted:

Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
Attempted Murder in the First Degree, a class A felony, one count
Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class C felony, one count
Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts
Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a class D felony, one count

Sentenced:

35 years to life in prison
5 years post-release supervision

Comments