Prospect Lefferts Gardens shooter sentenced to 12 years after NYPD officers wounded

A Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following a shooting incident that resulted in the injury of his roommate and two NYPD officers. Ridhwaan Abdur Rashid of Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on Monday.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo imposed the sentence, along with a mandate for five years of post-release supervision. Rashid entered his plea on Sept. 26, 2023.

“This was a terrifying act of gun violence that underscores the dangers our police partners face every day on the job,” District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. “We will never allow violence against law enforcement here in Brooklyn, and today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his deplorable actions.”

On the evening of March 7, 2021, police were dispatched to a 911 call at 42 Hawthorne Street. Rashid, after shooting his roommate, fired upon the responding officers from the 71st Precinct, wounding two. 

Police Officer Robert Aviles was hit in his bulletproof vest, and Police Officer Jonathan Landro suffered a leg injury. The ensuing standoff lasted roughly an hour before Rashid was taken into custody by an Emergency Services Unit.

Both officers, along with the roommate, Damon Lindsay, were treated at Kings County Hospital and released. Lindsay, who had also faced charges, was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.