Aug. 09,2017 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today that
Hengjun Chao (DOB 12/07/66) of 141 Main Street, Tuckahoe, NY was sentenced by Judge Barry Warhit to twenty-eight years in state prison after being found guilty by a jury of:
- one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class “B” Felony,
- one count of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony,
- one count of Assault in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony in the shooting of Dr. Dennis Charney.
On Aug. 29, 2016 at approximately 7:56 a.m., the defendant was parked in the Walgreen’s parking lot on King Street in Chappaqua. He was waiting for the victim to exit Lange’s Deli. Video surveillance evidence showed the defendant had stalked the victim for several days prior to the shooting.
When the victim left the deli, the defendant retrieved a loaded shotgun from the trunk of his car. He walked towards the victim, took aim and fired one shot, hitting him in the shoulder and chest area. The defendant remained there and was subsequently arrested by New Castle Police officers.
The victim was removed by ambulance and was hospitalized for five days.
Subsequent to his arrest, the defendant stated to police that he was the one who shot the victim.
The defendant was a research assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He was fired in May 2009 by a committee that included
Dr. Charney. The victim is the dean of the medical school.
The defendant was remanded into the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections.
Assistant District Attorney Christine O’Connor and Assistant District Attorney Daniel Flecha of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted the case.
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In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Media contact: Robert Wolf
111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116
