Kingston, NY – According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the Kingston teenager who was shot during the investigation of a reported break-in at Chase Bank in the Kingston Plaza on May 28, 2015, has pleaded guilty in Ulster County Court to burglary in the third degree, and sentenced to two and a third to seven years in state prison.
Alexander Jeffries, age 18, of Kingston, admitted that he had entered the bank with the intention to commit a crime said District Attorney Holley Carnright.
The District Attorney added that Jeffries gained entry to the bank through a rear door that had been left unsecured. He was captured on video attempting, unsuccessfully, to enter the vault.
Jeffries then left and obtained a mask and a handgun and returned to the bank at approximately midnight, unaware that he had triggered a silent alarm. Before gaining re-entry to the bank, the first officer arriving at the scene encountered Jeffries, who was wearing the mask and who raised his handgun and pointed it at the officer. The officer responded by firing one shot from his service revolver which struck Jeffries in the torso. The officer then immediately rendered medical assistance which ultimately helped in saving Jeffries’ life. Jeffries’ gun, which turned out to be a BB gun, was recovered according to Carnright.
The question of the officer’s use of force was presented to the Grand Jury which determined that his actions were appropriate. DA Carnright said, “I am in complete agreement with the Grand Jury’s findings regarding the officer’s use of force.”
The case was prosecuted by Sr. Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji.
The defendant was represented at the time of his plea and sentence by attorney Desmond Dutcher.
Article found here.