40-year-old NYC driver charged with attempted murder after shooting an off-duty cop
Officials announced on Wednesday that an off-duty NYPD detective in Queens was shot at by an angry driver from the Bronx last month. The driver has now been charged with attempted murder.
Authorities report that Alexis Morillo, 40, became enraged when a detective driving behind him on the Long Island Expressway near the Cross Island Parkway changed lanes and then moved in front of his SUV on September 17 at approximately 12:20 a.m.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s office, Morillo from the Bronx, reportedly engaged in road rage by changing lanes, speeding up to match the off-duty detective’s speed, and then screaming before firing a shot at him. The detective’s passenger side door was hit by a bullet.
According to prosecutors, the off-duty police officer chased after Morillo and then alerted the authorities by reporting his license plate number. Once they arrived at the Horace Harding Expressway, the detective was unable to keep track of Morillo’s whereabouts.
According to prosecutors, Morillo fled the scene of the shooting and abandoned the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 SUV, which was registered to his girlfriend, in Astoria. Afterwards, he reportedly took an Uber to his home in the Bronx.
Morillo faced multiple charges, including attempted second-degree murder, attempted assault, reckless driving, and unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. According to Melinda Katz, the Queens District Attorney, the detective’s life was almost lost due to a senseless act of violence.
In a statement, Katz emphasized the importance of persisting in their mission to remove firearms from the streets and ensuring the safety of both detectives and communities. If convicted, Morillo could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 20th.
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