A Queens actor has been sentenced to a prison term of 25 years to life for the 2021 murder of Tyrone Jones, following a conviction of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. The sentence was handed down after a jury trial found Isaiah Stokes guilty of shooting Jones 11 times in broad daylight while he waited in a parked car.
According to the Queens District Attorney's office, Stokes' attack on February 7, 2021, was an act of retaliation for a previous altercation at Jones' birthday party in 2020, where Stokes had been ejected. The district attorney, Melinda Katz stated, “Isaiah Stokes, embarrassed and upset that he was thrown out of a birthday party in October 2020, sought revenge on Tyrone Jones. Months later, the defendant attached a GPS tracking device to his victim’s vehicle and stalked Jones for more than a week. Stokes tracked Jones down to Linden Boulevard and fired 11 times into Jones’ vehicle, striking the man in his head and chest. Justice has now been served for the premeditated murder perpetrated by this defendant and he will now spend 25 years to life in prison as a direct consequence of his criminal actions.”
On the day of the killing, surveillance footage showed Stokes walking around the vicinity of 200th Street and Linden Boulevard before approaching Jones' Jeep Cherokee and opening fire. The incident, which occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m., resulted in Jones sustaining fatal wounds to his head and chest. Stokes then drove back to his apartment, and later returned the rental vehicle in New Jersey.
Detective work by the NYPD’s 113th Precinct and retired Detective Michael Naus from the Queens South Homicide Squad culminated in Stokes' arrest on July 16, 2021, with the assistance, of the NYPD’s Regional Fugitive Task Force. A subsequent search of Stokes’ residence turned up evidence linking him to the GPS device underneath Jones' vehicle, as mentioned by the same press release.
The trial, which began on February 13, concluded with Stokes' conviction on March 7. Justice Kenneth Holder presided over the proceedings and sentenced Stokes on the count of second-degree murder to 25 years to life in prison. This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy Regan, with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Dina Hodges.
