Posted on: August 29, 2024 07:28 AM

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Rockaway Beach man indicted on first degree attempted murder charge for shooting at NYPD officers in Edgemere

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Joel Kelly was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on charges of attempted murder in the first degree, attempted assault in the first degree and other crimes for firing at two NYPD officers as they pursued him in Edgemere after responding to a call of shots fired in the Beach 41st Street Houses. A 9 mm ghost gun pistol was recovered from the scene.

District Attorney Katz said: “My office will aggressively prosecute attempts on the lives of police officers who are sworn to serve and protect our city. After presenting the facts of this case, we secured a grand jury indictment on attempted murder charges against this defendant for allegedly firing at two officers who were simply doing their job when they responded to a 911 call of shots fired. My office will continue to make every effort to take illegal ghost guns, and those who use them, off our streets.”

Kelly, 60, of Beach 92nd Street in Rockaway Beach, was arraigned today on a 10-count indictment charging him with attempted murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, three counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino continued remand for the defendant and ordered him to return to court September 30.

If convicted of the top count, Kelly faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 40 years to life in prison.

According to the charges:

• On July 27, at approximately 12:07 a.m., Kelly visited his sister’s apartment inside the Beach 41st Street Houses. Shortly thereafter, she told him to leave.
• At approximately 12:23 a.m., the defendant was seen outside the building holding what appeared to be a pistol. He turned around and fired one shot into the air, continued to walk, then turned around again and fired a second shot.
• An NYPD sergeant and officer then responded to the area after a 911 report was made of shots fired. Upon arriving at the scene, they witnessed Kelly walking north on Beach 51st Street and began a pursuit.
• As the officers pursued the defendant, Kelly turned around, raised his arm while holding a pistol and fired in the direction of the two officers. The officers were not hit.
• Kelly then fled and threw a firearm to the ground, which caused the magazine to dislodge from the gun. A 9 mm pistol, a ghost gun, was recovered from the scene.
• Two 9 mm spent shell casings, one live round and three bullet fragments were also recovered in the hallway outside of Kelly’s sister’s apartment.

From Queens DA