FAR ROCKAWAY, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Chad Collie, 19, and Jayare Robinson, 18, have been charged with attempted murder and other crimes related to the shooting of an off-duty NYPD officer in the Arverne section of Far Rockaway around 10 p.m. on February 1, 2022. Defendant Collie has been charged with attempted murder in the first degree for shooting at uniformed police officers while attempting to escape.
District Attorney Katz said, “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. This blatant disregard for human life must be answered with certain justice.”
Collie, of Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Far Rockaway, Queens, was arraigned today before Queens Criminal Court Judge Laurie Peterson on a thirteen-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. Judge Peterson set his return date for February 7, 2022. Collie faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top charge.
Robinson, of Beach Channel Drive in Arverne, Queens, was arraigned today before Queens Criminal Court Judge Laurie Peterson on an eleven-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. Judge Peterson set his return date for February 7, 2022. Robinson faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
According to the charges, said DA Katz, 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, Queens. Defendant 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. The two defendants then fled on foot from the scene.
Continuing, District Attorney Katz said, 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 defendant 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 defendant 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 defendant Collie allegedly fired at the uniformed officers.
The investigation was conducted by Detective Michael Yu of the New York City Police Department’s Force Investigations Division.
Assistant District Attorney Alyssa Wanderon is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Shawn Clark, Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau, and the overall supervision of Daniel A. Saunders, Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Major Crimes Division.