Isaiah Stokes, a character actor whom you may have seen in a slew of shows from Law & Order: SVU to Boardwalk Empire and more recently Power was charged this week in a New York City Murder case. The actor is alleged to have shot the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Jamaica, Queens 11 times. Stokes was formally charged related to the crime on Friday.
This weekend news has broken that the TV actor was indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, as well as murder in the second degree. The allegations stem from an incident this past winter in which Isaiah Stokes allegedly walked up to a man named Tyrone Jones in broad daylight in Jamaica Queens and shot him nearly a dozen times while Jones was sitting in his vehicle. The incident took place on February 7, 2021, but charges are only coming down the pipeline at this juncture.
The allegations against Isaiah Stokes are serious. He’s currently facing three charges that could lead him to 25 years in prison if convicted, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office (via the NY Post). There is reportedly surveillance footage showing the actor stepping out of his own vehicle at Linden Boulevard and 200th Street whereupon he walked over to Tyrone Jones’ vehicle where the murder took place. Jones was shot numerous times in the face.
Medics were called in, but Tyrone Jones had already passed and was pronounced dead. There’s no current motive being listed for the crime; however, The Sun reports that Jones had reportedly gotten on Isaiah Stokes' radar some months prior and that the shooting may have stemmed from an earlier birthday party fight over a woman. In addition, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz gave a statement mentioning the gun violence that is prominent in the Jamaica, Queens neighborhood, calling the killing “brazen” in her own description of what occurred.
The defendant is accused of unloading nearly eleven shots during this brazen afternoon shooting. Gun violence is all too prevalent in our neighborhoods. We will not allow it to become the norm.
Prior to his arrest, Isaiah Stokes was known for popping up in a whole lot of television shows in guest acting roles. Most recently, he played Mozzy in an episode of Starz’s formerly hit series Power, but he’s also appeared in the aforementioned Law & Order: SVU, Boardwalk Empire, The Americans, Louie, The Mysteries of Laura, and further back in two episodes of Rescue Me. His creative endeavors have also included producing music under the name ISAIAH.
Isaiah Stokes is expected to return to court on Monday. Reports indicate he has been arrested previously on drug-related charges.
