NYPD Officer Sentenced to Prison for Attempted Murder, Assault

A New York City police officer was sentenced Wednesday to prison for attempting to murder a man in Pelham who was sitting in a car.

Brendan Cronin, 29, of Yonkers, received nine years in prison on each of the following felony counts:

• Two counts of attempted murder, felonies.
• Two counts of first-degree assault, felonies.
• Driving while intoxicated, misdemeanor.

Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty said Cronin had pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 22, 2015.

McCarty said Cronin, who was off duty at the time, had spent a day on in-service training at the NYPD’s Firearms and Tactics Section at Rodman’s Neck in the Bronx on April 29, 2014.

He then spent several hours at a City Island Bar before proceeding to drive home.

Cronin stopped in Pelham, parking in the vicinity of the intersection of Sixth and Lincoln avenues.

He approached a vehicle with two occupants who had stopped at a traffic light. Police said the people were unknown to him.

Standing alongside the passenger side of the automobile, Cronin fired numerous shots from a 9mm semi-automatic handgun into the car.

One victim was shot six times and suffered serious physical injuries, including to his back, shoulder, arm and chest. He required multiple surgeries.

Cronin tried to leave the area but was stopped by Pelham police and was arrested.

He was found to be intoxicated, police said.

Cronin was remanded to the New York State Department of Corrections.

Photo caption: Brendan Cronin. Photo credit: Courtesy.