BRONX, NY – A Bronx man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for killing a man on a Bronx street and later attacking two correction officers while awaiting trial at Rikers Island.
Anthony Taveras-Morales, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault in May and was sentenced Friday by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Tara Collins.
The charges stem from a 2020 shooting that prosecutors described as the result of an escalating feud.
Key Points
- Anthony Taveras-Morales sentenced to 22 years for shooting and jail assault
- Prosecutors say he fatally shot Jaguar Housey in 2020 after a fight
- He also slashed two correction officers at Rikers Island while awaiting trial
Fatal shooting followed social media feud
According to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the violence began after a fight between Taveras-Morales and 29-year-old Jaguar Housey on September 14, 2020. Taveras-Morales allegedly posted video of the altercation online, leading to tensions between the two men. Two days later, on September 16, Housey confronted Taveras-Morales on Prospect Avenue. Prosecutors said Taveras-Morales opened fire, hitting Housey twice — once in the arm and once in the head — killing him at the scene. A Crime Stoppers tip led to his arrest in February 2022 inside a Bronx apartment.
Assault on correction officers
While being held at Rikers Island awaiting trial, prosecutors said Taveras-Morales started a fire in his cell and slashed two Department of Correction officers who tried to intervene. Both officers survived the attack. Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie called it a “brazen assault” and praised the officers for their quick action in preventing further harm.
Sentencing and accountability
Taveras-Morales received 20 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter and an additional two years for second-degree assault. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said the consecutive sentences send a clear message that violence “on the streets or in the jails” will be met with full accountability.