Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the sentencing of Antjuan Smith, 19, to 15 years in state prison for shooting a 37-year-old woman in her eye through the peephole of her apartment door in NYCHA’s Douglass Houses. On May 19, 2023, a New York Supreme Court jury found Smith guilty of one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Assault in the First Degree, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
“Antjuan Smith’s actions were calculated and posed a threat to the victim’s children,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This is an extremely serious matter that has forever altered her life through the loss of eyesight. We will not allow guns to be used to terrorize innocent New Yorkers who are simply trying to go about their lives and care for their children.”
As proven at trial, Smith was in a local violent crew, which operated out of Douglass Houses. On November 1, 2021, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Smith went to the victim’s apartment to prevent the victim and her family from cooperating with law enforcement. The victim looked out the peephole and Smith then fired a single shot, striking her in the left eye. The woman’s 1-year-old twins were at home when the shooting occurred. As a result of the shooting, the woman has permanently lost sight in her eye.
Assistant D.A. Andrew Mercer of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit handled the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Christopher Prevost (Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Investigative Analysts Jonathan Diver and Cristina Valianatos assisted on the case.
