Boyce Hayward, 30, has been sentenced to a prison term of 40 years to life for a series of violent acts in Brooklyn. This stems from incidents in which Hayward fatally shot a man in Bushwick, wounded another, and later on the same night, opened fire on a police officer in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office confirmed the sentencing, with the DA Eric Gonzalez emphasizing the gravity of Hayward's actions, stating, “This defendant brazenly opened fire twice in one night, killing one man and seriously wounding two others, including a police officer. Thankfully, they both recovered, and the defendant was apprehended immediately. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his actions.”
Details from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s announcement revealed that the first shooting occurred on May 12, 2021, around 11:11 p.m., when Hayward approached a stopped BMW SUV and shot into the passenger side, killing Randall Roberts, 28, and severely injuring the driver. The second encounter, taking place just minutes later, involved Hayward shooting at Police Officer Brian McGurran after his identity had been relayed following the initial shooting. The officer, fortunately wearing a vest, sustained injuries but was able to return fire along with his colleagues. During the altercation, Hayward was also injured.
Hayward, who hails from Bushwick, stood before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun for sentencing. The jury convicted him on various charges including second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and counts of first-degree criminal use of a firearm on February 21. Prior to the sentencing, an off-duty officer providing a detailed description of Hayward, followed by a prompt law enforcement response, were crucial in bringing the defendant to justice.
The trial and subsequent sentencing come after an extensive investigation and prosecution process, with the assistance of several law enforcement officers and legal professionals. Credited by the District Attorney were Executive Paralegal Franklyn Arias, Homicide Paralegal John Homnick, and others, including NYPD Detectives Vincent DeMarino and James McDermott, for their work on the case. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Robert P. Schwartz and Executive Assistant District Attorney Joseph P. Alexis, according to the Brooklyn DA's office.
