25 to life over reportedly being disrespected? Sheesh. Isaiah Stokes, a former actor known for roles in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Boardwalk Empire, has been found guilty of the 2021 murder of Tyrone Jones in Queens, New York. On Friday, March 7, Stokes was convicted of second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office. He is scheduled to return for sentencing on March 21 and, as we mentioned, faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison, with the possibility of life behind bars.
The conviction followed a two-week jury trial that began on February 13. Prosecutors presented evidence detailing Stokes’ motive and the premeditated actions that led to the fatal shooting. The incident stemmed from a confrontation at a birthday party in October 2020, where Jones had Stokes removed due to his inappropriate behavior. Stokes reportedly harbored resentment over the incident for months, eventually taking drastic steps to exact revenge.
Here’s how it supposedly went down. On January 29, 2021, Stokes placed a tracking device under Jones’ car. Days later, on February 7, 2021, he used the device to locate Jones’ vehicle at Linden Boulevard and 200th Street. Stokes approached the driver’s side of the car and fired 11 shots, striking Jones in the head and chest. The 37-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Get this: Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz described the crime as a calculated act of violence. “This was a calculated murder,” Katz said in a statement. “The defendant, a part-time actor, stewed for months after being thrown out of a birthday party for his own inappropriate behavior. Intent on revenge, Isaiah Stokes placed a GPS on the victim’s car and tracked Tyrone Jones down to Linden Boulevard, where he ruthlessly shot the man 11 times as he sat in his car.”
What’s more, Katz emphasized her office’s commitment to combating gun violence, stating, “My office is laser-focused on gun violence, and we will utilize every tool at our disposal to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who use deadly guns on our streets.” She also thanked the prosecutors and NYPD detectives who worked on the case, adding, “The jury has now spoken, and the defendant faces up to 25 years to life at sentencing for his criminal actions.”
Stokes, now 45, has yet to be sentenced, but the conviction marks a significant step in holding him accountable for the 2021 murder. The case highlights the tragic consequences of unresolved conflicts and the devastating impact of gun violence on communities.
Senseless.