A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 14 years behind bars for shooting a woman who refused his sexual advances in a Bronx apartment building.
A jury found Kevin Hawse guilty of second-degree attempted murder and criminal weapons possession last month, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s office.
Officials said Hawse lashed out at the victim after she rejected his advances at a Baychester apartment building on 4 March, 2019.
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The 47-year-old then reportedly dragged the unidentified woman out of an apartment by her hair before hitting her in the head with a gun and shooting her in the chest.
According to authorities, the bullet went through the victim’s body and into a wall at the apartment complex. She was treated at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx following the terrifying incident.
In light of committing the crime, Hawse fled to Los Angeles. Fortunately, authorities were able to track him down nearly two months later and arrest him.
Darcel Clark, Bronx District Attorney, said in a statement, via New York Post: "The defendant was told by the victim that she wasn’t interested in his advances.
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"For saying no, she was grabbed, hit in the face with a gun, and shot in the chest.
"For the defendant’s violent and reprehensible actions, he will be heading to prison."
The news comes as a Bronx native was this week sentenced to 14 years in prison for a 2019 stabbing spree that left three injured.
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A jury convicted Ronald Cundiff in February of criminal possession of a weapon as well as several assault charges.
The incident, which occurred on 30 July, 2019, saw him stab a stranger in the torso after he had asked him to move his bag from a subway seat.
As the 55-year-old victim alerted the authorities, the 43-year-old, who had 25 prior arrests at the time, fled the scene.
However, when two police officers caught up with Cundiff and tried to arrest him, he knifed one of them in the shoulder as well as a 21-year-old who was trying to help.
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The second incident was caught on a mobile phone video.
Alvin Bragg, a Manhattan District Attorney, said in a statement: "The subway is the backbone of our city, and we will hold accountable anyone who attacks their fellow straphangers.
"Not only did Ronald Cundiff stab a rider who was looking for a seat, he also stabbed a good Samaritan and a police officer who tried to stop him."
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Lisa McLoughlin