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Gunman Sentenced to 12 Years for Robbing Off-Duty NYPD Officer, DA Says

By Aidan Gardiner | February 16, 2017 3:50pm

BROOKLYN — A gunman who shot an off-duty NYPD officer while robbing a Range Rover full of people was sentenced to 12 years behind bars Thursday.

Tori Saunders, 24, "committed a brazen gunpoint robbery that endangered the lives of a police officer and three other men. With today's sentence, he is being held accountable and facing the consequences of his actions," acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.

Saunders and one other suspect pulled a gun on the officer and other occupants of an SUV that was parked at Linden Boulevard near Miller Avenue about 10:15 p.m. on July 28, 2015, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

They yanked open the door and stole cash, phones, jewelry and other belongings but then opened fire when the driver tried to flee, prosecutors said.

Saunders and the other suspect shot one of the passengers, off-duty officer Tramaine Oxley, who then returned fire, officials said.

The Range Rover's driver rushed Oxley to Brookdale Hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot to his left arm and a graze to his torso, police said.

Saunders and the other suspect fled in a blue BMW, officials said. Saunders was caught in Nassau County and charged on July 30, 2015, officials said.

Investigators took another man into custody after the shooting, but never charged him because of a lack of evidence, sources said.

Oxley managed to identify Saunders in a lineup, prosecutors said.

Saunders pleaded guilty to robbery on Jan. 26, records show.

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Ruth Shillingford sentenced Saunders to 12 years in prison with five years post-release supervision, prosecutors said.