VICTORVILLE — A 39-year-old Crip gang member who shot at a Sheriff's deputy and was convicted of attempted murder, has been sentenced to 120 years to life in state prison, county court records show.
Dameyion Tyshon Kennedy, 39, was sentenced Friday afternoon in Victorville Superior Court after being convicted of two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office officials said. Kennedy was also found guilty of evading an officer and possession of a firearm by a felon, both with gang enhancements, and one count of street terrorism.
On Dec. 10, 2009, around 6 p.m. Kennedy was driving a Mercury Cougar in Victorville when San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy Maria Gascon attempted to pull him over near Mojave and
Village drives for having no back license plate.
"Kennedy exited the vehicle and confronted the deputy, saying, 'What the f*** you stopping me for?' stated a DA's Office release.
The release continues to say Gascon instructed Kennedy to get back into his car, which he did, before fleeing. Kennedy refused to stop and sped off before coming to a stop in the middle of the road and pulling out a gun. Gascon said in a DA statement that she heard gunshots and ducked. When Gascon sat back up, there was a bullet hole in her windshield where her head would have been. "One round struck the windshield of her patrol car directly in front of her face, and two other rounds struck the driver’s door pillar and mirror," the statement read.
Kennedy continued down the road and at one point made a quick U-turn, and continued to fire at Gascon as she attempted to follow him. Gascon was able to duck and avoid the gunfire before pulling out her own gun and shooting at him. Kennedy was not hit by any of Gascon’s rounds, but was later apprehended by authorities and arrested.
A Dec. 11, 2009 Daily Press article stated that neighbors reported suspicious activity near the area of Tawney Ridge Lane and Jay Post Road where officials found the vehicle and Kennedy inside a nearby home.
“I'm thrilled that after a careful consideration of the evidence, the jury found Mr. Kennedy guilty of all charges,” Deputy District Attorney Shannon Faherty, who prosecuted the case, said in the Friday release. “This is the type of case that perfectly illustrates when someone tries to hurt or kill a peace officer, this office will aggressively prosecute that person and protect our law enforcement victims.”