Bronx Man Charged In Connection With Shooting At NYPD Officers

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced charges against ANTHONY GOMEZ alleging that on June 16, 2023, he fired a 9mm bullet at NYPD officers in broad daylight on a busy street in the Bronx while he was on leave from a federal halfway house where he was completing his sentence for armed robbery.  Following the shooting, GOMEZ hid inside of a residential building, and eight hours later, he was arrested by the NYPD.  GOMEZ was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendant fired a loaded firearm aimed at officers of the NYPD.  At that time, he was on leave from the halfway house at which he was completing his federal sentence for other violent felony offenses involving firearms.  Worse still, the defendant allegedly committed this shooting in the bright light of a summer Friday night while numerous New Yorkers, including young children and families, were on the sidewalk and had to duck and run for safe cover.  Anyone who brings gun violence to our community and targets law enforcement officers who work hard every day to keep New Yorkers safe will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “By allegedly escaping from federal custody and brazenly shooting a gun at uniformed NYPD officers in broad daylight on a busy Bronx street, this repeat criminal has proven that he is a dangerous threat to our community.  I commend the work of our courageous NYPD officers in arresting and removing this violent felon from our streets, and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for its work in prosecuting this case.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint:[1]

NYPD officers witnessed GOMEZ attempting to hide a firearm in the front-right wheel well of a vehicle parked on a residential street in the Bronx.  When he realized he had been caught, GOMEZ grabbed the gun and tried to run from police.  Still images from surveillance footage are below:

While attempting to flee, GOMEZ came upon additional NYPD officers, pointed the firearm at them several times, and fired a shot at them.  Below are stills from surveillance video of the shooting in which the NYPD officers are circled in yellow in the first image, and GOMEZ is circled in red in the second image.

After shooting the firearm at NYPD officers, GOMEZ continued to flee, hid inside a residential building, and was subsequently arrested by NYPD outside of a neighboring building with a rooftop that connects to the residential building in which GOMEZ hid.

Below are photographs of the shell casing of the 9mm luger bullet fired by GOMEZ and the deformed fired bullet lodged in the door frame of a vehicle that was parked on the street during the shooting.

GOMEZ was not permitted to possess ammunition because of his prior federal convictions for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.

GOMEZ committed this shooting while he was away on an approved pass from the halfway house at which he was residing.  GOMEZ failed to return to the halfway house before his designated curfew and is thus considered to have escaped from federal custody.

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GOMEZ, 33, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with possession of ammunition after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and escape from custody, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. 

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and thanked the United States Marshals Service and the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea L. Scism is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.