Man Sentenced To 78 Months In Prison For Shooting Outside Of Bronx Deli

Demont Christian Shot at a Pedestrian in a Busy Intersection in Longwood

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DEMONT CHRISTIAN was sentenced today to 78 months in prison in connection with a shooting at the corner of Westchester Avenue and Faile Street in the Longwood neighborhood of the Bronx, New York, on October 7, 2022. CHRISTIAN previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken, who also imposed today’s sentence, to one count of possessing ammunition after conviction for a felony. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “On October 7, 2022, Demont Christian pulled a loaded handgun from his pocket and opened fire on a pedestrian in front of a Bronx deli. Christian perpetrated this senseless act of violence at a busy intersection filled with New Yorkers on nearby sidewalks and in passing vehicles. Today’s sentence sends an important message that we will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute gun violence to the fullest extent of the law.” As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in open court: At approximately 10:24 pm on October 7, 2022, in the vicinity of a deli located at 1126 Westchester Avenue in the Bronx, CHRISTIAN, wearing a ski mask, pulled a gun from his pocket and fired four shots at a Victim using a .380 caliber handgun. CHRISTIAN fired at the Victim from approximately two to four car lengths away as the Victim walked away across Westchester Avenue. At the time of the first gunshot, the Victim had not even reached the yellow center line, while CHRISTIAN aimed his gun from the sidewalk. Surveillance footage shows that CHRISTIAN took deliberate aim at the Victim while bystanders stood just feet away:

CHRISTIAN was not permitted to possess ammunition because of his prior New York State conviction for attempted assault in the second degree, for which he was sentenced to two to four years in prison. CHRISTIAN has at least 15 prior criminal convictions. * * * In addition to his prison term, CHRISTIAN, 28, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department. This case is being supervised by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Kinder is in charge of the prosecution.

Contact:

Nicholas Biase (212) 637-2600

Updated August 10, 2023