WHITE PLAINS, NY — Frank Valencia, 19, of New Rochelle will serve 24 years to life in state prison for shooting a Yonkers Police Officer in September 2017 and an unrelated case in New Rochelle.
Westchester County Court Judge Barry Warhit sentenced Valencia to the following for each count:
For Yonkers shooting:
- Two counts of Attempted Aggravated Murder of a Police Officer, a class A felony – 24 years to life in state prison on each count
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony – 15 years in state prison
For New Rochelle shooting:
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony — 3.5 years in state prison
All sentences to run concurrently.
Valencia pleaded guilty to these charges Dec. 18, 2018.
“Today justice has been served,” DA Scarpino said. “Convicted felon Frank Valencia will be off the streets, in prison, paying for the pain he inflicted on Police Office Kayla Maher and those who dodged bullets that same day. That attack was not on one person, it was on the entire Yonkers Police force. As of today, Valencia will serve the prison time he deserves.”
Scarpino added, “We are grateful that now Detective Maher is alive and well and continues her service to others. We commend the brave members of the Yonkers Police Department on their actions that day saving the lives of their colleagues and protecting the residents of Yonkers.”
Background on Yonkers shooting
Indictments allege, Valencia was involved in the shooting of a Yonkers Police Officer. Around 8 p.m. Sept. 25, 2017, two police officers responded to reports of a suspicious parked car at Marshall Road and Ridge Drive in the Park Hill section of Yonkers. As officers exited their patrol car and approached the vehicle occupied by Valencia and Reyes, Valencia opened fire and one of the responding officers was struck in the jaw by a bullet. Backup arrived, and while officers returned fire, the injured police officer was rushed to a nearby trauma center. The officer was released from the hospital two days later.
Valencia was injured in the shootout with police and taken to Westchester Medical Center where he was arraigned on charges of Attempted Murder. Reyes was arrested at the scene and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. A loaded Glock 40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, a high-capacity magazine and numerous bullets were recovered later at the scene where the shootout occurred.
Background on New Rochelle shooting
In addition, Valencia was sentenced on the weapons charge stemming from an incident Sept. 11, 2017, in New Rochelle. There he fired a weapon multiple times at a vehicle occupied by several people. No one was injured.
Second District Attorney Perry Perrone, Chief of the Superior Court Trial Division, and ADA Nadine Nagler, Chief of the Narcotics and Firearms Bureau, prosecuted the cases.
Judge Warhit: “a horrible, intentional and diabolical crime…if you never see the light of day that would be fine with me.”
Thank you to all from @YonkersPD who showed support today at the sentencing of the criminal who shot a member of our precinct and attempted to kill many more. Special thanks to @WestchesterDA and Judge Warhit for his words today. #YonkersPD3