By Associated Press - Thursday, May 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) - A Bronx man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2012 shooting of an off-duty New York City police officer.

Joseph Baez was also sentenced to 3½ years of post-release supervision Thursday.

The 21-year-old man had pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the shooting of Officer Nelson Vergara and another man.



An attorney for Baez didn’t immediately return a message.

Prosecutors say Vergara was walking home after his shift when he confronted a man for throwing a bottle at him.

That’s when they say Baez got out of a passing car and fired a semi-automatic pistol, striking Vergara in the shoulder and leg. Vergara returned fire.

Vergara has been promoted to detective. He’s also served two tours in Iraq as a Marine.

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