JOHNSTOWN - A Brooklyn man was sentenced this morning in Fulton County Court to 25 years to life in state prison for shooting a Gloversville man last August.
Tyquanne D. "Turk" Madison, 24, of East 103rd St., was sentenced by Judge Richard C. Giardino as a second felony offender for shooting 24-year-old Codie Hayward. He was shot four times in his Littauer Place apartment about 4 a.m. Aug. 12. Madison fired five bullets, but only four struck the victim, who survived. Hayward was shot in the chest and forearm, and twice in the right leg.
Madison previously was convicted of felony robbery in 2007 in Brooklyn, for which he received six months in jail.
Article Photos
Tyquanne D. “Turk” Madison, center, stands with his attorney, Mark Gaylord, left, at the bench during sentencing at the Fulton County Courthouse in Johnstown this morning. (The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan)
The defendant had been convicted May 10 by a County Court jury of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
District Attorney Louise Sira had asked for the maximum sentence - 25 years to life - because of the "egregious nature" of the crime, shooting an "unarmed man."
"I just would ask the court to recall some of the more pertinent facts in this case," she said.
Madison's attorney, Schenectady lawyer Mark Gaylord, asked Giardino to "show some compassion" toward his young client. He said there have been "tragic consequences" in Madison's life, including his father being murdered when he was young, and his mother, who had "addiction problems."
He also had a sympathetic letter from a female cousin of Madison, a youth minister from New York City.
But in the end, Giardino sentenced Madison to 25 years to life, with five years of post-release supervision. Madison received concurrent terms of 25 to life for the second-degree attempted murder and first-degree criminal use of a firearm counts, and 15 years to life for the first-degree attempted assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon counts.
He has the right to appeal his case.
Madison declined to speak when asked by the judge if he wanted to make a statement.
The victim wasn't in the courtroom, although several Gloversville police officers attended the proceeding.
Hayward had identified the shooter as Madison, who was found in Connecticut by U.S. marshals in September and transported by police to Gloversville in October.
Evidence included the gun used in the shooting, which was recovered by detectives behind a residence on South Main Street partially buried along the Cayadutta Creek.
Sira had called 14 witnesses during Madison's trial. She had credited the Gloversville Police Department's swift action and public cooperation in putting the case together.
Authorities had difficulties extracting information initially, as those involved in the shooting of Hayward declined to offer it. Sira in her closing trial statement had said many who were involved in drugs have a "culture of going along to get along."
During the trial, Gaylord raised questions about whether Madison was the shooter as witness testimony pointed toward a dispute between Hayward and Marvin "Loco" McLaurin, who refused to testify.
Hayward said his ex-girlfriend was given $700 to go to New York City and secure drugs for McLaurin. But when she didn't return, McLaurin assumed she robbed him, Hayward said. He said McLaurin also thought he was trying to set up one of his girlfriends with another man.
Hayward was transported to testify at Madison's trial from Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, Westchester County, where he is serving a seven-year sentence in connection with the shooting and robbery of David Ortiz outside Naif's Discount Beverage & Tobacco on North Main Street in Gloversville less than two weeks after he was shot.
Hayward testified in that case against Louis "Black" Robinson in February. Robinson was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the robbery.
Madison was indicted in December by a county grand jury. He was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies. Giardino later agreed to reduce a first-degree assault charge to first-degree attempted assault.
According to Hayward's testimony, Madison, whose suitcase was found in the apartment, came into Hayward's bedroom with him. Hayward was on his computer, got up to get a beverage and saw Madison "looking crazy" with a gun in his hand.
According to Hayward, Madison asked if he had been with Robinson that day. Hayward lunged for the gun. It fired into his arm, jammed and then fired a bullet into his chest, he said.
Hayward said he fell to the ground and "played dead" as Madison shot him again twice in the leg.
He heard Madison leave, dragged his right leg down the stairs, outside and down Littauer Place to the corner of East Fulton Street, where he collapsed and was found by two women.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.