A Bronx teen has been convicted of paralyzing a 14-year-old skater in a shooting at the Bryant Park ice skating rink in 2013 after six days of deliberations.
Cory Dunton, 19, was convicted by a Manhattan jury Wednesday afternoon in connection to the tragedy on November 9, 2013, when prosecutors say he tried to steal Javier Contreras $400 Marmot coat and shot him when he was brushed off.
Contreras, 20, was struck by four bullets — but Adonis Mera, now 17, who was an innocent bystander, was paralyzed for life.
Both victims testified against Dunton at trial and Contreras identified the defendant, who wore braids at the time, as the gunman from the night of the incident.
Dunton’s attorneys argued at trial that the witnesses mistook Dunton for his pal — another male in his group of friends.
They said the other friend was really the shooter and that surveillance video from 42nd Street outside the park shows Dunton fleeing for safety with two female pals.
Dunton faces up to 25 years in prison for his conviction on the top count alone.
