Would be Middle Island cop killer sentenced


DA discusses sentence for would be cop killer | Suffolk County District Attorney office.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney addressed the media following a court appearance of a Middle Island man sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempted murder of Suffolk County police officers.

Tierney discussed the sentencing of Brandon Scanlon, 34, who received 20 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision for Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and related charges. Scanlon pleaded guilty in August 2025 to shooting at Suffolk County Police officers during an April 2024 incident after law enforcement attempted to execute a search warrant at his Bohemia “stash house.”

“This significant sentence reflects the serious nature of these crimes. The defendant’s reckless actions – fleeing police, discharging a firearm at officers, and possessing illegal weapons and controlled substances – endangered lives and terrorized our community,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I commend the brave officers who risked their lives to apprehend this dangerous individual, and I am thankful for their quick thinking and professionalism prevented what could have been a tragedy.”

When law enforcement approached Scanlon near the apartment, he retreated into a vehicle carrying a black duffle bag and fled the location. During his flight, Scanlon struck a member of law enforcement twice with his minivan as he drove away from the apartment complex. The officer suffered serious injuries and had to be treated at a local hospital.

Scanlon then led law enforcement on an extended vehicle pursuit through multiple towns in Suffolk County. During that pursuit, Scanlon repeatedly opened fire on officers with his weapon as they attempted to pull him over. No officers were struck during the shooting. Scanlon eventually crashed his vehicle on the Sunrise Highway service road in Bay Shore, where he was finally arrested.

Inside Scanlon’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered the .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol used to shoot at law enforcement as well as cocaine and fentanyl. He was arrested at the scene and arraigned on the indictment on August 14, 2024. 

The investigation was conducted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force and multiple cooperating law enforcement agencies. The case was heard before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro at the Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex in Riverhead.

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