Queens, NY – On Wednesday, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the sentencing of Isaiah Stokes, who received 25 years to life imprisonment following his conviction for the murder of Tyrone Jones. The murder occurred on February 7, 2021, when Jones, seated in his parked Jeep Cherokee in St. Albans, was fatally shot. This act of violence was allegedly in retaliation for a dispute that transpired during Jones’ birthday celebration in October 2020.
According to District Attorney Katz, the defendant sought revenge after being ejected from the party. Stokes placed a GPS device on Jones’ vehicle weeks prior to the shooting, tracking his movements. On February 7, Stokes located Jones, discharged his firearm into the vehicle 11 times, and struck the victim in the head and chest, leading to Jones’ immediate death.
A jury found the 45-year-old Stokes guilty of second-degree murder and weapon possession charges on March 7, following a trial that began on February 13. Justice Kenneth Holder delivered the sentence on Wednesday.
The investigation revealed that Stokes’ motive stemmed from a confrontation at Jones’ birthday.
