BRONX, NY — Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark has announced that Shawn Bass, a 20-year-old from East 139 Street, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a fatal shooting that occurred when he was 17. The incident took place in the Mott Haven neighborhood, where the victim was casually standing on the sidewalk before being gunned down.
The attack, which occurred on August 27, 2021, near Saint Ann’s Avenue and East 137th Street, was unprovoked and captured on surveillance video. Bass approached 29-year-old Demetry Aristud and fired multiple shots, hitting him six times, including a fatal chest wound. The senseless violence led to Aristud’s death and a subsequent police manhunt.
Bass was apprehended at 257 Alexander Avenue after he tried to escape capture by changing his clothes. He later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on November 28, 2023. “This is another act of senseless violence,” remarked District Attorney Clark, emphasizing the urgent need to prevent teenagers from accessing firearms and engaging in such tragic acts.
Bronx Supreme Court Justice Gale Roberts handed down the sentence today, which includes 20 years of incarceration followed by five years of supervised release, reflecting the gravity of the crime and its impact on the community.