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A shell casing was recovered near the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and 59th Street, where Collie allegedly fired at the uniformed officers.
By Forum Staff
Two Far Rockaway men have been charged in the shooting of an off-duty NYPD officer and the subsequent shootout with cops in Arverne following a botched car-jack attempt last week, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Thursday.
Chad Collie, 19, and Jayare Robinson, 18, were both arraigned Thursday. Collie was arraigned on a 13-count complaint charging him with attempted murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, attempted robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, attempted robbery in the second degree and assault in the second degree. If convicted of the top charge, Collie faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
Robinson was arraigned on an 11-count complaint charging him with attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, attempted robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, attempted robbery in the second degree and assault in the second degree. If convicted, Robinson faces up to 25 years in prison.
According to the charges, at approximately 10 p.m. on February 1, 2022, the defendants walked up to a vehicle stopped at a traffic light near the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 62nd
Street in Far Rockaway. Collie allegedly tapped on the driver’s side window and demanded that the driver exit the vehicle. The driver, a 22-year-old off-duty NYPD officer, then got out of the car.
Video surveillance shows the defendants standing on either side of the victim, who then attempts to get away from them. Defendant Collie allegedly fired three shots at the officer and one bullet struck him in the shoulder. The off-duty officer returned fire but hit neither defendant. Collie and Robinson then fled on foot from the scene.
Nearby uniformed officers in an unmarked police vehicle responded to the sound of gunfire and spotted the defendants on Beach 62nd Street. They followed the defendants to the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 59th Street, stopped a few feet in front of them, and exited the vehicle.
According to the charges, defendant Collie allegedly fired a shot at them, hitting the rear of their car. The defendants then allegedly threw the gun, which was later recovered, into a patch of grass and continued running. Shortly after, the uniformed officers apprehended the defendants.
Three shell casings were recovered near the intersection of Beach 62nd Street and Beach Channel Drive, where Collie allegedly fired at the off-duty officer, who received medical treatment at a local hospital for his injuries. Another shell casing was recovered near the intersection of Beach Channel Drive and 59th Street, where Collie allegedly fired at the uniformed officers.
“This was a brazen carjacking attempt that all-too-easily could have ended in yet another tragedy for NYPD and all New Yorkers. As alleged, the defendants—one of them brandishing a gun—confronted the victim, an off-duty police officer, as he sat in his car at a red light. After the off-duty officer got out of his car, defendant Collie allegedly fired three shots, one of which hit the victim in his shoulder. The defendants then fled and defendant Collie allegedly shot at uniformed officers, who were able to apprehend them,” Katz said. “This blatant disregard for human life must be answered with certain justice.”
