BROOKLYN, NY – Jamal Batts, 34, of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison following his conviction in a case involving a point-blank shooting attempt after a dispute. The sentencing was handed down by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Susan Quirk.
On November 3, 2021, around 12:10 p.m., at 222 Hoyt Street in Boerum Hill, Batts fired a gun at a 53-year-old man during a confrontation that began when Batts’ dog defecated on the sidewalk where the victim was cleaning. After the victim voiced a complaint, Batts responded with a racial slur and escalated the altercation by threatening the victim’s life and firing at his head. Miraculously, the victim dodged the bullet, struggled with Batts, and fled to a nearby store, escaping further harm.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez remarked on the severity of the incident, stating, “It is shocking that this defendant tried to execute a stranger in broad daylight following a minor dispute.” He emphasized that such acts of gun violence are intolerable in the community.
Batts, who was convicted on May 4, 2023, faced charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Surveillance footage from the scene and additional videos from nearby locations played a crucial role in the investigation and subsequent arrest of Batts.