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Janell Funderburke

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Janell Funderburke

Janell Funderburke Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Aggravated Murder and Robbery Charges in June

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on July 11 that Janell Funderburke, 21, of Coram, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after pleading guilty in June to Attempted Aggravated Murder and Robbery in the First Degree, arising out of two separate incidents that included the shooting of a Suffolk County Police Officer in May 2023.

“This sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions” said District Attorney Tierney. “While we are thankful Officer Lafauci survived, this case is a reminder of the dangers and risks members of law enforcement face daily. In Suffolk County we appreciate and support our law enforcement officers. If you seek to injure a police officer while in the performance of his or her duties, we will pursue you with the full force of the law.”

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine released a statement shortly after. “Justice has been served today as Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney has announced a 25-years-to-life sentence for Janelle Funderburke for his attempt on the life of a Suffolk County police officer as well as armed robbery. If you commit crimes in Suffolk County, you will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My administration will continue to support all of Suffolk County’s law enforcement agencies and work together daily to make Suffolk County a safer place to live.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on May 8, 2023, Funderburke arranged to meet two women in the vicinity of his residence on Homestead Drive in Coram. After meeting them, an argument ensued and then escalated to Funderburke pointing a black firearm at them.

He then threatened to shoot one of the women and stole her money. The women reported the incident to police, and Funderburke was wanted in connection with the gunpoint robbery.

On May 11, 2023, at 12:45 p.m., Suffolk County Police Officer Michael Lafauci was conducting surveillance in Coram in relation to the May 8, 2023, armed robbery investigation when Funderburke was observed walking southbound on Homestead Drive. Officer Lafauci pulled behind Funderburke, exited his unmarked police vehicle and identified himself as a police officer, at which point the defendant began to flee. Officer Lafauci ran after the Funderburke on foot and ordered the defendant to show his hands. Funderburke refused to comply with the orders. As he continued to run, Funderburke turned back towards Officer Lafauci, extended a black firearm with his right hand, and fired twice.

Officer Lafauci was struck in his upper right thigh by one of the bullets and fell to the ground as Funderburke continued to run away towards his residence. Nearby members of the Suffolk County Police Department immediately administered emergency aid to Officer Lafauci. He was subsequently rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

Following his arrest, a search warrant was executed against Funderburke’s residence where a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine, a quantity of fentanyl, and a quantity of the controlled substance carisoprodol were recovered. A microscopic ballistic examination of the pistol recovered from Funderburke’s residence revealed the pistol was the same pistol used to shoot Officer Lafauci.

On June 3, 2024, Funderburke pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. to Attempted Aggravated Murder, a Class A-1 felony and Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony.

On July 11, 2024, Justice Senft sentenced Funderburke to 25 years to life in prison. He was represented by Christopher Cassar, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Bureau Chief James Slattery and Assistant District Attorneys Donald Barclay and William Richards with assistance from discovery expeditor Isabella Sestak of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Pilar O’Rourke of the Appeals Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Brendan O’Hara of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Janell Funderburke

Janell Funderburke Will Be Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on June 3 that Janell Funderburke, 21, of Coram, pleaded guilty to Attempted Aggravated Murder and Robbery in the First Degree, arising out of two separate incidents that included the shooting a Suffolk County Police Officer in May 2023.

“Today’s guilty plea is a stark reminder of the critical role that law enforcement plays in upholding justice and maintaining the rule of law. This defendant’s heinous actions in shooting an officer, who had clearly identified himself, and then fleeing demonstrate a blatant and egregious disregard for the very fabric of our legal system,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Such acts of violence against those who protect our communities cannot be tolerated and will be met with the full force of justice. I want to thank the Suffolk County Police Department and especially Officer Lafauci for their exemplary work on this case.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on May 8, 2023, Funderburke arranged to meet two women in the vicinity of his residence on Homestead Drive in Coram. After meeting them, an argument ensued and then escalated to Funderburke pointing a black firearm at them

He then threatened to shoot one of the women and stole her money. The women reported the incident to police, and Funderburke was wanted in connection with the gunpoint robbery.

On May 11, 2023, at 12:45 p.m., Suffolk County Police Officer Michael Lafauci was conducting surveillance in Coram in relation to the May 8, 2023, armed robbery investigation when Funderburke was observed walking southbound on Homestead Drive. Officer Lafauci pulled behind Funderburke, exited his unmarked police vehicle and identified himself as a police officer, at which point the defendant began to flee. Officer Lafauci ran after the Funderburke on foot and ordered the defendant to show his hands. Funderburke refused to comply with the orders. As he continued to run, Funderburke turned back towards Officer Lafauci, extended a black firearm with his right hand, and fired twice.

Officer Lafauci was struck in his upper right thigh by one of the bullets and fell to the ground as Funderburke continued to run off towards his residence. Nearby members of the Suffolk County Police Department immediately administered emergency aid to Officer Lafauci. He was subsequently rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

Following his arrest, a search warrant was executed against Funderburke’s residence where a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine, a quantity of fentanyl, and a quantity of the controlled substance carisoprodol were recovered. A microscopic ballistic examination of the pistol recovered from Funderburke’s residence was the same pistol used to shoot Officer Lafauci.

On June 3, 2024, Funderburke pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. to Attempted Aggravated Murder, a Class A-1 felony and Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony. Funderburke is expected to be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Funderburke is due back in court on July 11, 2024, and he is being represented by Christopher Cassar, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Bureau Chief James Slattery and Assistant District Attorneys Donald Barclay and William Richards with assistance from discovery expeditor Isabella Sestak of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Pilar O’Rourke of the Appeals Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Brendan O’Hara of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Suffolk County Police arrested a Coram man on May 11 after he shot a Suffolk County police officer in Coram.

Sixth Precinct officers were conducting surveillance on a Norfleet Lane home after receiving information that Janell Funderburke, who was wanted for an armed robbery that occurred two days earlier, was inside. Funderburke exited the home and upon seeing officers, he fled. One officer pursued the suspect on foot and Funderburke fired two shots at the officer, striking him in the right thigh,  at approximately 12:50 a.m.

The officer, a six-year veteran of the department assigned to the Sixth Precinct Anti-Crime Unit, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital via police vehicle and underwent surgery. Funderburke, 20, of Homestead Drive, was charged with Attempted Aggravated Murder and Robbery 1st Degree.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Police arrested four people on weapons charges following a motor vehicle crash from which they were rescued by police officers in Dix Hills on Aug. 18.

Photo from SCPD

First Precinct Officers Shawn Arigoni and Michael Renna were on patrol when they observed a 2018 BMW speeding and swerving on Route 231 near Commack Road. The officers turned on their overhead lights and attempted to pull over the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle failed to pull over and the officers turned off their lights and discontinued the traffic stop attempt.

A short time later, the driver of the BMW, Eric Johnson, lost control of the vehicle on northbound Commack Road, just north of Burlington Avenue, and the vehicle crossed over the southbound lane, struck a tree, and overturned at 12:53 a.m.

Officers Arigoni and Renna then came upon the vehicle, which had caught fire due to the crash. Officers Arigoni and Renna, along with Police Officers Thomas Engelhardt and Ryan Carroll, pulled the driver and his three passengers from the vehicle. A fanny pack containing a loaded .40 caliber handgun was located inside the vehicle. All four were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip.

Photo from SCPD

First Squad detectives charged Johnson, 22, of Medford, with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Contempt 2nd Degree and was issued multiple traffic violations.

Passengers Magaly Espinal, 21, of Central Islip, Tazjan Derritt, 26, of Amityville, and Janell Funderburke, 19, Coram, were charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Firearm. Funderburke was also charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th Degree, Criminal Possession of a Substance 7th Degree and Criminal Contempt 2nd Degree.

Johnson, Espinal and Derritt will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on August 19. Funderburke has been admitted to the hospital and will be arraigned at a later date.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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