Man who attacked 3 NYPD officers with machete on New Year's Eve in 2022 sentenced
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The man who attacked three New York City police officers with a machete on New Year's Eve in 2022 was sentenced Thursday.
Trevor Bickford, 20, pleaded guilty to federal charges back in January.
On Thursday, he was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
Prosecutors say he traveled from Maine to carry out a premeditated jihadist attack on officers in uniform. According to a complaint, Bickford told investigators he was unsuccessful because none of the officers died.
All three officers suffered serious injuries but one was able to stop Bickford by shooting him in the shoulder.
Bickford spoke out in court and expressed remorse, saying in part:
"I owe an apology to the officers, their families, witnesses and to my family," he said. "It's my hope the victims can forgive me. Although I know it's a tall order to ask."
His lawyers had asked for 10 years in prison, given his improvement since being behind bars.
The officers who were attacked that day also spoke in court. They laid out their experience with what some might call PTSD in light of what happened.
It was one of the officer's first day on the job.
The judge took into consideration that Bickford was 19 at the time and his mental history.
He will be sent to the federal medical center in Devens, Massachusetts -- a federal prison for inmates who require long-term care.
"Today's sentence holds Trevor Bickford accountable for his premeditated 2022 terrorist attack in Times Square during which he attempted to kill three NYPD officers in a violent rampage," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "The Justice Department is deeply grateful to the NYPD for its quick actions and bravery in disrupting this New Year's Eve attack, and for the work it does every day to keep New Yorkers safe. The Justice Department will always stand by its state and local law enforcement partners as we work together to counter the threat of terrorism, and that includes being relentless in prosecuting those who seek to harm officers."
After he serves the 27 years, Bickford will be on supervised release.
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