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Roosevelt resident Ahkhazyah Wright, 19, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder, two counts of assault and criminal possession of a weapon in June, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced.
Singas said that at approximately 2:40 a.m. on July 23, 2017, an 18-year-old girl went into a bathroom at a Maple Avenue home during the party. Wright followed her inside, at which point she called out for help.
Three men inside the house, including three friends - Kyle Richard, Sulaiman Ania, and Jewell Stewart - heard the cries for help, opened the bathroom door and forced Wright from the house, stopping the sexual assault.
Minutes later, Wright was spotted on the front porch of the house, and he fired a handgun several times when he was confronted, striking Richard three times.
A minute later, a car returned to the house, and the driver, unaware of the shooting, was struck in the back when Wright began open firing again. Wright then fled and a witness called the police.
The investigation led police to Wright, who was arrested at his father’s home in Roosevelt the following day on July 24 by Nassau County Police detectives. At the time of his arrest, Wright was hiding under a pile of clothing.
“This defendant’s violent outburst could have killed his innocent victims, and his reckless conduct left them with permanent injuries,” Singas stated. This lengthy prison term ensures that he will pay a heavy price for the physical and emotional injuries he caused.”
Singas noted that Wright’s victims continue to suffer from their injuries. Richard, who was a SUNY Cortlandt junior at the time of the incident, was honored by former Vice President Joe Biden with the Biden Courage Award for his role in stopping the assault.
“Kyle Richard is a role model for us all,” SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson said at the time. “When suddenly confronted with a dangerous situation he had the courage to save a person from unspeakable harm – and he did so at risk to his own life. We are proud of Kyle, not only for his heroic efforts, but also for his willingness to share his story as a way to build awareness to stop sexual assault. My congratulations to him.”
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