NYC bike path terrorist spared death penalty as jury fail to reach unanimous decision

A man who intentionally drove a truck down a New York City bike path, killing eight people in what was the city’s deadliest terrorist attack since 9/11, has been spared the death penalty. 

Sayfullo Saipov, an Islamic extremist, faced the death penalty but a jury deadlocked over how he should be punished. 

Instead, he will spend life in prison at the supermax facility in Colorado, the most secure prison in the US. 

A unanimous decision by the jury is required to impose a death penalty. Saipov’s life sentence does not allow for parole. 

Prosecutors said Saipov had spent a year planning the attack and chose Halloween because more people were likely to be out. Saipov shouted “God is great” in Arabic as he emerged from the truck after the rampage.

“He turned a bike path into his battlefield,” said prosecutor Jason Richman. “He was happy about the terrorist attack he unleashed.”

NYC bike path attack victims

Six people died at the scene of the NYC attack and two more died in hospital. Twelve people were injured. 

Five of those killed were from a group of nine Argentine friends visiting the city.

A 31-year-old woman from Belgium who was visiting the city also died.

Two Americans, a 32-year-old financial worker and a 23-year-old software engineer, were killed.