Gunfire Erupted Outside Of Springfield Gardens Party: Chief Of Patrol

SPRINGFIELD GARDENS, NY — Gunfire ensued between plain clothes-officers of NYPD’s Violence-prevention Crime Squad and three men alleged to be in a street crew Friday night, according Chief of Patrol Jeff Maddery, who held a press conference in the early Saturday morning with NYPD executives Ast. Chief Kevin Williams of Patrol Borough Queens South and Deputy Chief Jerry O’Sullivan of Queens South Detectives.

The gunfire occurred after officers of the crime squad, who were posted outside a party attended by 75 to 100 people on 219th Street and 130th Avenue, witnessed several individuals show up outside of the party at approximately 11:35 p.m. and pulled out three guns with the alleged intention of shooting into the crowd, according to Maddery at the 2 a.m. press conference.

Maddery said the crime squad immediately jumped out of their unmarked car and were able to shoot, apprehend and retrieve the guns from all three suspects, but was unsure if anyone in the crowd was shot in the aftermath or if any one particular person was a target.

“They were observing the party because they believed there was potential for violence from one of the local street crews,” Maddery said about the squad. “They were watching everything going on when an unknown group of men entered the same intersection … and the group pulled out three firearms and started firing into the vicinity where the party was at.”

One suspect is in critical condition and the other two had non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and were sent to local area hospitals, said the patrol chief. The officers involved in the shooting were also sent to the hospital for tinnitus.

Two of the gunmen had past criminal interactions with the 105 Precinct, which is within the vicinity of where the shooting took place, said Maddery.

“Gun violence continues to beleaguer our communities,” Maddery said. “I implore members of our communities to work with police to put an end to this gun violence.”

Maddery asked the public to call 1 (800) 877-TIPS or reach out to the 105th Precinct with any information regarding the shooting.

The investigation remains ongoing.