Sarasota man convicted of firing at first responders gets 40 years

A man charged in a 2019 shooting incident aimed at paramedics was sentenced last week to 40 years in prison, court records show.

Tyran Young, 38, of Sarasota pleaded no contest to all charges in August. Those charges were:

• Two counts of aggravated assault on a firefighter
• Shooting into a vehicle
• Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Unlawful use of a two-way communications device
• Misuse of 911

Before dawn on Jan. 7, 2019, a Sarasota County Fire Department ambulance came under fire on Goodrich Avenue in Sarasota following an unfounded 911 medical-aid call.

When the paramedics closed the door to the vehicle to leave, a man wearing a hoodie fired at the ambulance, striking the front passenger door at least twice, and ran off. No injuries were reported.

According to an arrest affidavit, Young was taken into custody on March 9, 2019, on Main Street.

The Sarasota Police Department said detectives determined Young staged the shooting and falsely blamed a juvenile relative, suggesting the youth was motivated by a family tragedy involving first responders. Investigators found Young’s cellphone searches mirrored the automated 911 message and linked him to a similar call in 2018.

Young was set to begin a one-year prison sentence the day after the shooting.

“Tyran Young very much seems to think he is smarter than everyone else,’’ said prosecuting Assistant State Attorney William Greiner. “However, considering he managed to get himself sentenced to 40 years in prison for doing something to avoid serving one year in prison, everyone else is free to think otherwise.”

Young is awaiting transfer to prison.