Johnny Shorter was convicted in April of Robbery, Burglary and Assault charges
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced today a Hempstead man who pistol-whipped and robbed a woman and later ran from police with a loaded firearm was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
Johnny Shorter, 42, was convicted on April 11, 2022, after a jury trial before Judge Howard Sturim of two counts of Burglary in the First Degree (a B violent felony), two counts of Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony), two counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony), Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D violent felony), and two counts of Menacing a Police Officer (a D violent felony). Shorter was found not guilty of a single count of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing (an A misdemeanor). The defendant was sentenced today to 20 years to life in prison.
“Johnny Shorter broke into a woman’s locked bedroom while she was sleeping and violently assaulted and robbed her at gunpoint,” said DA Donnelly. “Shorter’s brave victim lured him outside and, after a foot pursuit with a gun drawn and pointed at police officers, he was taken into custody. Nassau County Police Department officers were able to arrest Shorter successfully and safely, and he was ultimately convicted of these crimes. I thank our prosecutors and the members of the NCPD and Hempstead Police Department for holding this violent defendant accountable.”
District Attorney Donnelly said, according to the charges, on October 11, 2020, at approximately 11:00 a.m. in a Hempstead home where the defendant was renting a room, the defendant entered the locked bedroom of his sleeping victim and held her at gunpoint, demanding money that he claimed the victim had stolen from him.
The defendant stole credit cards, cash, and other items from the victim’s purse. He then shoved the barrel of the loaded gun into her mouth, pistol-whipped her, and continued demanding money.
In an effort to get help, the victim told Shorter that she had money in her car and convinced the defendant to leave the home with her. Once outside, a nearby neighbor heard the incident and called the police.
The defendant ran from the scene, gun still in his hand, with police in pursuit. During the chase, the defendant pointed his firearm at both officers. Shorter shot himself in the leg with the handgun before being apprehended by officers.
Shorter was arrested by detectives of the Hempstead Police Department and Nassau County Police Department on October 11, 2020.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsels Tracy Keeton and Nicole Aloise of the Homicide Bureau. The defendant is represented by Don Rollock, Esq.
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