New Rochelle Man Gets 9 Years For Night Of Havoc In The Bronx

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A New Rochelle man who went on a rampage in the Bronx was sentenced to prison after being found guilty by a jury.

Shamel Rodriguez has been sentenced to nine years in prison and five years of post-release supervision for gun possession, robbing a man and stealing his car in the Bronx, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced on Friday.

"The defendant robbed a man and took his car, recklessly driving through red lights and speeding while police pursued him for seven blocks before he crashed into a subway pillar," Clark said in a statement. "Officers found a loaded .22 caliber revolver in his possession. If you possess a loaded illegal gun in the Bronx, you face prison time."

Rodriguez was found guilty of the charges on March 18, after a jury trial.

33-year-old Rodriguez, who lives on Drake Avenue in New Rochelle, was sentenced last week to nine years in prison for criminal possession of a weapon and nine years for second-degree robbery. The sentences will run concurrently. He was also sentenced to five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Denis Boyle.

On September 13, 2019, at 4:00 a.m., near Jefferson Place and Franklin Avenue, Rodriguez approached the victim asking for marijuana, then demanded his valuables. After receiving the victim’s car keys, he stole the vehicle and attempted to escape. NYPD followed the car and after pursuing Rodriguez for several blocks as he drove recklessly, he crashed the car into a subway pillar. NYPD officers found Rodriguez in possession of a loaded .22 caliber pistol.