The gunman involved in an hour-long robbery spree that ended with bullets flying at two NYPD officers during a hot pursuit was sentenced today to 40 years to life in prison.
Darius Lowery was found guilty by a Queens jury for the attempted murder of Officer Shawn Phillips and Steven Betts on Feb 3, 2010.
“He turned Southeast Queens into a shooting gallery, put children and families at risk and for what? Small items like a Wii, jewelry and a cell phone?!” Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder lashed into Lowery before pronouncing sentence.
Lowery, 25, and his partner-in-crime, Urban Fermin stole a 2000 white Ford Focus, did a gun-point push-in burglary, stole a woman’s purse before commencing a high-speed chase with the officers throughout South Jamaica.
“The defendant has forfeited his right to walk on the street with law-abiding citizens,” said prosecutor Francis Longobardi.
Lowery, who showed no remorse before sentencing, fired eight shots at the officer while Fermin drove erratically on Sutphin Boulevard during the early morning hours.
The officers were not injured during the shoot out, but were hospitalized for distress after the pair were apprehended.
Prosecutors said Lowery was in and out of prison since 2005 for violent robberies and is currently awaiting sentence in Central Islip for a federal gun-point robbery conviction.
“I’m not convinced or why the jury was convinced Lowery was involved,” said Lowery’s trial attorney, David Cohen. “There was no forensic or physical evidence…there is a chance that this is the wrong defendant.”
Fermin, 33, was sentenced to 30 years to life in March.