A Coram man accused of trying to kill a Suffolk County Police Officer last year was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to Attempted Aggravated Murder and Robbery in the First Degree.
21-year-old Jennell Funderburke entered guilty pleas related to the shooting of a Suffolk County Police Officer in May of last year.
Prosecutors said Coram got into a heated argument with two women near his Homestead Drive home, then pointed a gun at them. Police said that fight escalated to the point where Funderburke threatened to shoot one of the women, then stole her cash. They called police, and a warrant was put out for the Coram man’s arrest.
Three days later, Suffolk County Police Officer Michael Lafauci was searching for Funderburke in and around Coram, and spotted him walking southbound on Homestead Drive. Officer Lafauci pulled behind Funderburke, got out of his unmarked police vehicle and identified himself as a police officer.
Funderburke took off, according to police, and a foot chase began.
An intense standoff ensued, when Officer Lafauci ordered the accused criminal 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 toward his home.
Nearby members of the Suffolk County Police Department immediately administered emergency aid to Officer Lafauci. At the time, he was 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.
“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.”
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.
“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,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.