A Wyandanch man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for his role in a violent home invasion in Central Islip.
On April 8, 2023, Beresford Hall, armed with a handgun, confronted a man opening his front door, forced him inside, and then attacked and restrained his family. Utilizing zip ties, he bound and assaulted the victim’s girlfriend’s two teenagers and threatened other occupants, including a 10-year-old child and a 4-month-old infant. Hall stole over $6,000 in cash and jewelry, a wallet and car keys.
Upon realizing the home was surrounded by members of the Suffolk County Police Department, Hall cut the zip-ties off of the victims with a knife, and, in doing so, cut their hands. Hall then allowed all the victims to leave the house one by one before walking out of the home himself. Police ordered Hall to place his hands behind his back, however he fled on foot before being apprehended by law enforcement with the assistance of Police Officer Bryan Lawrence and K9 Officer Rafeh.
At the time of this crime, Hall was indicted in Onondaga County for five counts of first-degree robbery for allegedly holding up an auto parts store, two convenience stores, and a gas station in Syracuse. Hall was also charged in Onondaga County with weapons possession after police allegedly found a loaded handgun while searching his home. He was released on $200,000 bond. Those charges are still pending.
On March 25, 2024, Hall pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, a Class B violent felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz. On April 30, 2024, Horowitz sentenced Hall to 13 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
“This defendant forcibly entered a home armed with a gun with multiple family members inside,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Thanks to the victim’s girlfriend who saw the incident through the home’s doorbell video, she called the police who were able to apprehend the defendant before he could get away. This dangerous individual is now off of our streets thanks to the hard work of my prosecutors and members of the Suffolk County Police Department, including Police Officer Bryan Lawrence and K9 Officer Rafeh.”