Duane Costa received sentence of 25 years to life in prison
MINEOLA, N.Y. – District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Uniondale man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the attempted murder of four Nassau County Police Officers following a traffic stop in 2018.
Duane Costa, 40, of Uniondale, was convicted by Judge Patricia Harrington after a bench trial on December 16, 2021 of four counts of attempted murder in the first degree (an A-I felony); one count of criminal use of a firearm in the first degree (a B violent felony); and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (a C felony). Costa was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison.
“Duane Costa fired at least two rounds directly at officers’ heads from less than 10 feet away as they pursued him down the streets of Hempstead and he continued firing as additional officers joined the chase,” said DA Donnelly. “Police officers around the country put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe, knowing that it could mean they don’t return home to their families. I will always support our police, and when there is violence against a member of law enforcement we will ensure that the defendant is held responsible for their crimes.”
DA Donnelly said that on October 28, 2018, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the car in which the defendant was a passenger, was stopped by two members of the Nassau County Police Department at Midwood Street and Lafayette Avenue in Hempstead for failing to signal a left turn. After smelling alcohol, observing the defendant not wearing a seatbelt, and adjusting an object in his waistband, officers ordered the driver and defendant out of the car. The defendant pushed past the officers and ran.
As he ran, Costa reached toward his waist, and a .40 caliber pistol fell to the ground. The defendant then pulled out another gun, a CZ-52 pistol, and fired multiple rounds at the officers as he ran around a corner where he encountered two different officers who were nearby on a separate matter.
Costa fired more rounds at those officers and continued running on Clinton Street until he ran into an alley. The defendant was found a short time later in a yard on Meriam Street and arrested. Both handguns were recovered, and none of the officers fired their weapons or were injured.
Chief Jared Rosenblatt of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Ryan Nelson of the County Court Trial Bureau prosecuted the case. Lori Golombek, Esq. represents the defendant.
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