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Convicted Co-op City Killer Tries To Escape During Sentencing
By
Jen Chung
Published May 6, 2011
Modified May 6, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published May 6, 2011
Modified May 6, 2011
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After a judge sentenced him to 90 years to life in prison, the man convicting of killing a former boss Co-op City leaped from his chair. Paulino Valenzuela was also screaming, "Please let me go!" but five to seven court officers jumped on top of him.
Back in 2007, Valenzuela went to Co-op City, where he had previously worked as a janitor (he was fired and then unsuccessfully sued to get his job back), and shot ex-supervisor Audrey Bent and wounded two other people (one is now paralyzed). Then he went to the Bronx Criminal Court building, where he confessed, "Cuff me, because I just killed somebody. I have my revolver in my bag, and I have the blood on my hands to prove it."
The Daily News reports that Judge Alvin Yearwood scolded Valenzuela, "You have no remorse. That's why this sentencing is going to be very easy... Sir, you will have 90 years to life to think about what you did." A lawyer for Valenzuela, who claimed that Bent attacked him first, says he will appeal.
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co-op city
murder conviction
paulino valenzuela
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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