A violent thug will rot in prison for at least 35 years, paying the price for killing a beloved subway conductor during a wild 2007 gun battle in Harlem, a judge ruled today.

Daniel Israel, 24, opened fire on a crowd outside Kennedy Fried Chicken on Fifth Avenue and East 110th Street on June 23, 2007, killing Warren Justin Dandridge, 26, a popular off-duty MTA employee.

Israel also wounded two of Dandridge’s pals and fired at two responding cops.

Prosecutors wanted to put Isreal away for 95 years, while the defense argued for the minimum sentence of 25 years to life.

The victim’s dad, Warren Dandridge, said his son loved doting on his then 2-year-old daughter and coached basketball at the YMCA .

“My son Justin was polite, honest and had the utmost integrity,” the grieving 63-year-old dad told Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus. “He never said no to me or his mother.”

As Isreal was led away from court, he looked back at his mom and softly said: “Don’t cry mom, I love you.”

The killer’s mom kept sobbing and muttering repeatedly: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”