Gang Member Faces 12 Felonies Stemming From Attempted Burglary

YONKERS, NY — A gang member was indicted for attempted murder and 11 other charges stemming from a burglary that went awry.

The Westchester County District Attorney's Office said Luis Sanchez, 28, of Yonkers was arraigned Wednesday on the following charges:

• First-degree attempted murder, a felony
• Two counts of second-degree attempted murder, felonies
• Three counts of first-degree assault, felonies
• First-degree robbery, a felony
• Two counts of second-degree attempted burglary, felonies
• Two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felonies
• Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony

Sanchez was remanded into custody, with his next court date set for Oct. 21.

Around 2:15 a.m. April 11, the Yonkers Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting that occurred in the rear of a home on Western Avenue. The victim and his wife were sleeping when Sanchez, who had a large kitchen knife, began forcefully banging on their door, trying to burglarize the home, police said.

The victim and Sanchez did not know each other.

The victim, who legally owned a handgun, tried to get Sanchez to go away. Instead, Sanchez lunged at the man and assaulted him.

Sanchez got control of the gun and shot the man in the stomach.

He then stole the gun and was arrested later that day. The handgun was not recovered.

Sanchez, who is a Yonkers Blood Hounds gang member, was awaiting sentence for an earlier offense in which he possessed a knife with intent to use it on a taxi driver.

He pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and was released on his own recognizance pending a state prison sentence of two to four years.