The Jamaica man who shot an NYPD sergeant twice in 2012 in Queens has been sentenced to 55 years to life behind bars, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced on Wednesday.
John F. Thomas, 28, whose last known address was on 109th Avenue in Jamaica, was convicted in June 2015 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 for the 2012 shooting of NYPD Sergeant Craig Bier.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory L. Lasak sentenced Thomas on Wednesday to an indeterminate term of 55 years to life in prison.
“This was a senseless, violent act and once again illustrates how dangerous police work is,” Brown said. “The defendant has shown that he has no regard for authority and is a menace to society. [Wednesday’s] sentence – the maximum allowed by law – is more than justified.”
According to trial testimony, on Aug. 8, 2012, 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. Bier had his NYPD shield displayed and identified himself as a police officer.
Thomas proceeded to flee the location, and Bier pursued. Thomas, being trapped by a fence, pulled out a firearm and shot Bier twice — once in each leg.
