Man who attacked police officers with machete on New Year’s Eve 2022 sentenced to 27 years in prison – WGAU

NEW YORK CITY — A man has been sentenced to nearly three decades in federal prison after pleading guilty to attacking several New York City officers with a machete on New Year’s Eve.

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According to the New York Times, 20-year-old Trevor Bickford pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder of police officers, three counts of assault on police officers and three counts of assault on police officers. The charges were related to a machete attack on three police officers during the 2022 New Year’s Eve event in Times Square. Bickford pleaded guilty in January.

According to the Times, Bickford was shot by an officer. One of the three officers suffered a fractured skull in the incident.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bickford traveled from Maine to New York City to “wage jihad and kill as many of his targets as possible.”

In addition to the 27-year sentence, Bickford was also sentenced to life of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

“Inspired by radical Islamic extremism, Trevor Bickford brutally attacked three NYPD officers who were just doing their job by protecting the public during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square. Fortunately, an officer’s quick actions were able to stop the defendant’s attack while minimizing the risk to the innocent bystanders who could have easily become further victims of the defendant’s heinous violence. Less than a year and a half after his attack, Bickford was convicted and has now been sentenced to 27 years in prison. Bickford’s conviction and sentence demonstrate that cowardly acts of terrorism are responded to by law enforcement’s unwavering determination to protect New York City, our country, and our core values ​​of freedom and democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

“Today’s verdict holds Trevor Bickford responsible for his premeditated terrorist attack in Times Square in 2022, in which he attempted to kill three NYPD officers in a violent rampage. The Department of Justice is deeply grateful to the NYPD for its quick action and courage in preventing this New Year’s Eve attack and for the work they do every day to keep New Yorkers safe. “The Department of Justice will always stand with our state and local law enforcement partners as we work together to counter the threat of terrorism, including relentlessly pursuing those who seek to harm public officials,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

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