A judge sentenced Hengjun Chao, a former assistant professor of medicine at New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to 28 years in prison Aug. 9 for the attempted murder of Icahn School of Medicine Dean Dennis Charney, MD, according to CBS New York.
Judge Barry Warhit sentenced Mr. Chao to 23 years in prison for attempted murder and an additional five years in prison for criminal use of a firearm, the report states.
At the hearing, Mr. Chao said, "I respectfully and sincerely apologize to all the residents of Chappaqua, the workers and the customers of the Lange's Deli. … I also apologize to Dr. Charney and his family for his unfortunate injury. I also apologize to my wife and my family."
At a previous June 8 hearing, Dr. Charney testified to "hearing a loud boom and having blood on his shoulder" before running into Chappaqua, N.Y.-based Lange's Little Store & Delicatessen Aug. 29, 2016, seeking help. He proceeded to spend five days in the intensive care unit at Mount Sinai "fighting for his life" after being shot in the shoulder and chest, according to Patch.com.
Police speculated the attack was a form of retribution after Dr. Charney fired Mr. Chao following incidents of "research misconduct" in 2009. However, during his testimony June 14, Mr. Chao said he did not try to kill or hurt Dr. Charney out of revenge. Rather, he claimed he attempted to shoot Dr. Charney to "expose" his alleged unethical relationship with a drug manufacturer.
Mr. Chao's lawyer told the television news station Wednesday he plans to mount a "vigorous appeal" against the judge's verdict, the report states.