A Jamaica man last week was convicted of attempted murder of a city police sergeant and other charges in an August 2012 shooting, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
John Thomas, 27, was found guilty last Thursday of first-degree attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault on a police officer, assault on a police officer, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and second-degree assault.
According to the charges, NYPD Sgt. Craig Bier, 44, was on patrol as part of an anti-gang unit when he approached Thomas at the intersection of 107th Avenue and Union Hall Street at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2012. Bier, Brown said, had his NYPD shield displayed and identified himself as a police officer. Thomas proceeded to run away and Bier pursued. Thomas, his escape blocked by a fence, produced a firearm and shot Sergeant Bier twice – once in both legs.
Brown called the shooting “a senseless, violent act and once again illustrates how dangerous police work is. The defendant has shown he has no regard for authority and is a menace to society. He will be locked behind bars for a very long time.”
Thomas is due to be sentenced on July 28, at which point he faces up to 40 years to life in prison.
