A former TV star has been sentenced to 25 years to life behind bars for brutal “calculated” murder.
Isaiah Stokes was convicted for the brutal murder of Tyrone Jones. Credit: Michael Kovac / Getty
Isaiah Stokes, known for his roles on Blue Bloods, Power, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, was convicted of fatally shooting 37-year-old Tyrone Jones in Queens, New York, on February 7, 2021.
According to prosecutors, Stokes was enraged after being kicked out of a party in 2020 for inappropriate behavior toward female guests.
In the months that followed, he tracked Jones using a GPS device and ambushed him, firing 11 shots into his head and chest while he sat unaware in his car. Jones died at the scene.
Queen’s District Attorney Melinda Katz called the killing “a calculated murder”, adding: “The defendant, a part-time actor, stewed for months after being thrown out of a [2020] birthday party for his own inappropriate behavior [toward female party guests],” cited by Metro.
“Justice has now been served for the premeditated murder perpetrated by this defendant and he will now spend 25 years to life in prison as a direct consequence of his criminal actions.”
She added: “My office is laser-focused on gun violence, and we will utilize every tool at our disposal to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who use deadly guns on our streets. I thank our prosecutors and the NYPD detectives who built this case.”
Stokes starred in Blue Bloods, Power, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Credit: Bennett Raglin / Getty
The 45-year-old was arrested five months after the horrific murder and was found guilty of second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
He was sentenced on Friday, after being found guilty following a two-week jury trial on March 13.
During the sentencing, Stokes muttered at Judge Kenneth Holder, prompting a fiery response from the bench.
“I don’t care what you said! I don’t care if you maintain your innocence, you are more guilty than anyone I’ve seen in this courtroom!” the judge told the actor. “You thought staying in jail for as long as you can would do wonders for your movie career when you got out. But here’s the problem, you have to get out and you’re not getting out.”
Holder continued, slamming the murder as both vicious and mindless: “No one can intentionally plan a murder and carry it out as stupidly as you did. You were angry over a beatdown you got months earlier, you had all that rage consuming you for months and hatched this ridiculous plan.
“You hunted down Jones and shot him 11 times and ensured he would die… ironically the murderous rage you undertook presents you with the notoriety you hope for,” the judge continued. “You’re now an example of how one can completely ruin their life in the blink of an eye.”
The judge acknowledged Stokes’ previous accomplishments but couldn’t reconcile his talent with the crime.
“You have some small degree of talent, impressive talent, what makes this whole thing so perplexing. Why would you throw all this away for a fight that you said was ‘no big deal’… that clearly was a lie.”
The former TV star has been sentenced to 25 years to life. Credit: Charles O’Rear/Getty
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Jones’ father described Stokes as a “monster”.
“TJ was fun, loving, he is my son, a brother, uncle, and a nephew,” he said. “What I don’t want to remember is the day that you decided to murder my son. I lost my only son on February 7, 2021, TJ did not die from a car accident or a disease but by the hand of a monster, Isaiah Stokes.”
He continued: “Isaiah, you stalked my son, you followed TJ for weeks, but TJ… What did TJ do to you? As TJ sat in his car and was unaware… You lied to everyone! I got to go to the cemetery to talk to my son in a grave.”
