Brooklyn Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Shooting Nassau County Cop

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Brooklyn man was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison for shooting a Nassau County police officer during a burglary attempt nearly two years ago.

Cong Xu's sentence was part of a plea agreement after the 22-year-old Chinese national pleaded guilty in February to assault and burglary.

Xu shot Officer Mohit Arora following a New Hyde Park home invasion in August 2013.

Arora, formerly of the NYPD and with the Nassau force since 2007, was shot in his stomach when Xu turned during a foot chase and fired his 9 mm handgun at the officer three times.

Xu tried to escape through neighbors' yards before eventually being apprehended.

An accomplice, Renhang Qiu, pleaded guilty in May 2014 to burglary and agreed to a seven-year prison sentence. He had agreed to testify against Xu.

The home that was invaded belongs to Qui's relatives, police said. No one was hurt inside the home.

"Probably the most frightening thing that any of us could go through in our lives. Having somebody armed, entering our house, and invade our privacy," Nassau County PBA President James Carver said.

Police and the public packed the courtroom Tuesday to support Arora.

Xu apologized in court through an interpreter, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported. He said he didn't mean to shoot the officer, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported.

Arora said outside court he is glad the case is now behind him.

"I'm just fortunate to be alive," Arora said. "It was a traumatic experience, and I learned a lot from this.

"He got what he deserved, and I just want to move on with my life at this time," Arora told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.

The judge and district attorney called Arora a hero for protecting a neighborhood at risk.

"This case is a grim and vivid reminder of the dangerous work our Nassau County police officers do every day to ensure our safety and the integrity of our homes," said Madeline Singas, Nassau's acting district attorney.

The sentence was a strong one, said Thomas Krumpter, acting police commissioner.

"It sends a very strong message this monster will be in jail for the next 30 years," he said.

After his release, Xu will be under supervised parole for 10 years and is expected to be deported to China.

Following months of hospitalization and rehab, Arora is back on duty.