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Partly Cloudy Home invasion suspect gets 25 years
Three suspects now behind bars for robbery attempt that left boy half-blind and partially paralyzed
A man involved in a 2006 Inwood home invasion that left a 9-year-old boy blind in one eye and partially paralyzed after he was shot through his right eye was sentenced to 25 years in prison, according to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.
Jamel McFarlane, 26, of Brooklyn, received his sentence Friday after being convicted in July of the 31 charges against him relating to the home invasion, which include assault, robbery, burglary and criminal possession of a weapon. Two other men involved in the home invasion, Tyreek Williams and Rasheed Watson, were convicted in August and September 2007, and sentenced to 21 and 25 years in prison, respectively, for their part in the crime.
"I'm glad it happened, I'm glad they're off the street and they can't hurt anyone else," said Melissa Montalban, of Far Rockaway, whose son, John Henry Romano, now 12, was shot through the eye nearly three years ago. "We can now move on with our lives."
McFarlane and the two other men entered the Inwood home armed with handguns at about 11:10 p.m. on September 23, 2006, according to the D.A.'s office. McFarlane then brought the then 9-year-old Romano, a guest of the home who was playing video games at the time, to a room where the other two men were ordering the occupants to their knees. The men demanded the occupants' valuables.
Concurrently, a resident of the house, Albert Aloisi, who was in his bedroom, confronted the would-be robbers with his licensed .357-caliber revolver. The men exchanged shots, and Aloisi hit one of the perpetrators in the face. Two of the victims then attempted to force Watson out the front door, according to the district attorney's office. Watson, while trying to get back into the house, fired multiple shots into the living room, striking one occupant in the left arm and Romano in the eye. Romano's testimony helped convict McFarlane.
Montalban said that her son is doing well, and he'll be celebrating his 13th birthday on Oct. 25th. Romano, who now has a prosthetic right eye, is still in therapy to improve his motor skills.
"Thanks to the bravery of this young boy and solid police work," Rice said, "Mr. McFarlane will join his two co-defendants in prison."
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