Coram man receives 25 years to life for attempted murder of police officer

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY – Janell Funderburke, a 21-year-old resident of Coram, has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to charges of Attempted Aggravated Murder and Robbery in the First Degree. The sentencing follows Funderburke’s involvement in two separate criminal incidents, including the shooting of Suffolk County Police Officer Michael Lafauci in May 2023.

District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney highlighted the case as a stark reminder of the perils faced by law enforcement officers. “This sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s actions. We are grateful that Officer Lafauci survived, and this serves as a reminder of the daily risks our officers face,” Tierney stated.

Court documents reveal that on May 8, 2023, Funderburke brandished a firearm during a confrontation with two women near his home, subsequently robbing one of them. This incident led to a police surveillance operation on May 11, where Officer Lafauci encountered Funderburke. During the pursuit, Funderburke shot Officer Lafauci in the thigh, causing serious injury.

A search of Funderburke’s home post-arrest led to the recovery of the weapon used in the shooting, along with illegal substances. The ballistic examination confirmed the recovered firearm was the same one used to injure Officer Lafauci.

Funderburke’s guilty plea was entered on June 3, 2024, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr., who handed down the sentence on July 11, 2024. The case was prosecuted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau.

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