Man who attacked NYPD officers near Times Square with machete sentenced to 27 years in prison
Trevor Bickford, a 20-year-old from Maine, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attacking three NYPD officers with a machete near Times Square on New Year’s Eve in 2022. Bickford traveled to New York City to carry out the premeditated attack, shouting “Allahu akbar” before striking the officers in the head with the machete. One officer suffered a fractured skull.
The attack was stopped when Officer Michael Hanna shot Bickford in the shoulder. Bickford told authorities that he had studied radical Islamic ideology and decided to wage jihad against U.S. officials.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams condemned the attack, stating that Bickford was inspired by radical Islamic extremism. Judge P. Kevin Castel cited Bickford’s age and history of mental illness as reasons for leniency from federal sentencing guidelines. Bickford’s mother had sought help for her son’s mental illnesses before the attack, which included schizoaffective bipolar disorder and major depression syndrome.
Bickford apologized to the officers he harmed and admitted that his mental illness led him down a dark path. The officers affected by the attack shared their experiences, expressing physical and mental harm. Defense attorney Marisa Cabrera mentioned Bickford’s remorse and his family’s military background.
Bickford will be monitored for life after his release from prison, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaylan Lasky urged the judge to consider Bickford’s potential to harm others if he goes off his medication. The judge emphasized the importance of monitoring Bickford’s future actions to prevent further harm to Americans.
