Alleged Gang Member Arraigned On Attempted Murder Charges: Nassau DA

UNIONDALE, NY — An alleged member of the Crips street gang was arraigned today on multiple charges related to a weeks-long crime spree that ending with a shootout with Nassau County police officers.

Jonathan Vazquez, 20, of Bay Shore, was arraigned on two counts of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree assault.

Vazquez pleaded not guilty and was remanded into custody. He is due back in court on April 25. If convicted, he faces up to 160 years in prison.

“This defendant’s alleged three-week crime spree only came to an end after a harrowing police pursuit through Uniondale. During the pursuit Jonathan Vazquez is alleged to have pointed his gun at officers and fired multiple rounds,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “This charged violent behavior threatened the lives of residents and officers, and we are fortunate that no one was killed. Our office will hold this individual accountable for these alleged crimes and his utter disregard for the law.”

According to Donnelly, around 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 8, Vazquez and another man, who has not yet been arrested, fired 17 shots at a person outside of an apartment complex on Martin Luther King Drive in Hempstead. The victim was hit in the upper thigh and taken to a hospital.

Around 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16, Donnelly said that Vazquez approached a woman on Ridge Lane in Levittown and pointed a gun at her face. He took money and her purse, and then fled the scene, Donnelly said.

Shortly before midnight on Feb. 28, Donnelly said that two members of the Nassau County Police Department's Bureau of Special Operations were on patrol in Uniondale when they saw the car Vazquez used to flee the Levittown robbery. The car, a black Dodge Charger, had tinted windows and no license plate, and was found to be stolen, Donnelly said.

The officers turned on the lights on their car and tried to pull the Dodge over, Donnelly said, but Vazquez sped off and tried to flee, crashing into three parked cars before finally coming to a stop on Nassau Road in Uniondale.

Donnelly said that Vazquez fired two shots at the officers from the driver's seat of the Dodge and hit the hood of the police car. The officers returned fire.

As backup arrived, Donnelly said that Vazquez ignored officer's commands and drove away, until his car came to a stop on Arthur Street. He got out of the car, pointed his gun at the officers and pulled the trigger, Donnelly said. He then ran from the scene, Donnelly said.

Police chased Vazquez through multiple back yards and over many fences, Donnelly said, eventually arresting him on Van Buren Street. One officer was injured during the chase.