By Forum Staff
A Rockaway Beach man has been arraigned on several charges after he allegedly fired at two NYPD police officers who were pursuing him in Edgemere, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday.
Joel Kelly, 60, was arraigned last Wednesday night on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
According to the charges, on July 27, at approximately 12:07 a.m., Kelly visited his sister’s apartment on Beach 40th Street in the Beach 41st Street Houses. Shortly thereafter, she told him to leave.
Photo Courtesy of Alameda County Sheriff
A 9mm ghost gun, similar to the one recovered at the Edgemere scene.
At approximately 12:23 a.m., Kelly was seen outside his sister’s apartment building holding what appeared to be a pistol. He turned around and fired one shot, continued to walk and turned around again and fired a second shot.
An NYPD sergeant and a police officer then responded to the area after a report was made of shots fired. Kelly was seen by the officers walking north on Beach 51st The officers pursued Kelly who turned around, raised his arm while holding a pistol and fired in the direction of the two officers. The officers were not hit.
Kelly then fled and threw a firearm to the ground, which caused the magazine to dislodge from the gun. A 9mm pistol, which was a ghost gun, was recovered from the scene.
Two 9mm spent shell casings, one live round and three bullet fragments were also recovered in the hallway outside of Kelly’s sister’s apartment.
“Attempts on the lives of police officers, who put themselves in harm’s way to protect New Yorkers, have no place in our city,” Katz said. “We will remain steadfast in our efforts to take illegal firearms, especially ghost guns, out of our communities.”
If convicted of the top count, Kelly faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 40 years to life in prison.
