BROOKLYN, NY — A Bushwick man who killed one man, wounded another, and then opened fire on police officers in a separate encounter has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Key Points
- Boyce Hayward, 30, convicted of murder and attempted murder
- Killed one man and wounded a driver in 2021 Bushwick shooting
- Shot at officer minutes later; both he and officer were injured
Gunman opened fire twice in deadly 2021 spree
Boyce Hayward, 30, was sentenced by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun following his February conviction for the May 12, 2021, shooting rampage. At around 11:11 p.m., Hayward approached a BMW SUV at Madison Street and Broadway and fired multiple rounds through the passenger window, killing 28-year-old Randall Roberts and seriously injuring the driver.
According to prosecutors, Hayward then walked from the scene, unaware he had been spotted by an off-duty officer who relayed a description to police.
Just four minutes later, Hayward was seen on Howard Avenue near Saratoga Park. Officers from the 81st Precinct, responding to the earlier shooting, attempted to confront him. As Officer Brian McGurran approached, Hayward opened fire, hitting McGurran twice—once in his protective vest and once in the buttocks and thigh.
Officers return fire, gunman wounded
Police returned fire during the Bedford-Stuyvesant exchange. Hayward was shot in the buttocks and taken into custody at the scene. He was later convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, attempted murder, and multiple weapons offenses.
District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said the sentencing reflects the severity of the crimes: “This defendant brazenly opened fire twice in one night, killing one man and seriously wounding two others, including a police officer.”
Conviction follows coordinated investigation
The case was handled by a team that included Executive Paralegal Franklyn Arias and multiple NYPD detectives from the 83rd Precinct and the Force Investigation Division. Digital evidence and eyewitness testimony played a central role in securing the conviction.
Officer McGurran and the injured driver have since recovered from their injuries.