On Thursday, May 9, Westchester County District Attorney, Miriam E. Rocah announced that two brothers received a combined sentence of 28 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of a Yonkers resident last year.
The arrest
On January 20, 2023, at approximately 12:26 p.m., the defendants, who were unknown to the victim, assaulted the victim by punching and kicking him after a verbal dispute outside his residence in Yonkers.
They then struck the victim with a firearm and shot him in the back as he attempted to flee into his home. Emergency services promptly transported the victim to a local hospital for medical treatment of his injuries.
The Yonkers Police Department (YPD) arrested on Daquann Johnson January 21. Brother Dieandre Phillips was apprehended on January 24, 2023. Local surveillance footage and license plate readers were utilized to complete the investigation.
Additionally, authorities discovered a 9mm bullet shell casing from the crime scene.
The trial
After a four-week trial, a jury found the defendants guilty of multiple felonies on March 30, 2024. The charges included:
- Attempted Murder in the Second Degree
- Attempted Assault in the First Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
- Assault in the Second Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree
Westcheseter County Court Judge George Fufidio sentenced Daquann Johnson, 34, to 16 years in state prison with five years probation. Dieandre Phillips, 32, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison, also with five years probation.
Gun violence inflicts enormous fear and stress in our communities and drivers of this epidemic must be held accountable. Thankfully, the victim survived this violent attack and shooting, and the defendants now face the consequences for their actions.
Miriam E. Rocah – Westchester County District Attorney
