Man Holding a Child Is Shot in the Head
A 20-year-old man was shot in the head and killed Tuesday while
he held his young daughter in his arms, police said.
The victim, identified by family members as Allen McQueen, was
standing in front of a building on Taylor Avenue in the Parkchester
section of the Bronx when shots rang out around 1:19 p.m., police
said.
Mr. McQueen was shot once in the head, according to police. His
1-year-old daughter, Taylor, fell to the ground but wasn't injured,
police and family members said.
Mr. McQueen was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, where he died a
short time later, police said.
Mr. McQueen's sister, Jennifer McQueen, said he was a good, kind
person who loved his daughter. "Nobody deserved to die like that,"
she said. "He was dedicated to his daughter... He loved kids."
Moments after the shooting, neighbors grabbed the child, who
appeared to be unharmed, and held her until Emergency Medical
Service workers arrived.
They child was also evaluated at the hospital but was released,
according to Ms. McQueen.
Investigators believe the shooting was gang related and
identified the victim as a leader of the Taylor Avenue Crew, a
law-enforcement official said.
Mark Morales
ATV Rider Is Accused Of Attempted Murder
An all-terrain-vehicle rider accused of ramming and injuring a
uniformed police officer aboard a confiscated dirt bike appeared in
court on Tuesday charged with 14 counts ranging from assault to
attempted murder.
George Evangelista, 44 years old, said nothing as he was
remanded into custody on $250,000 bond or cash bail following his
arraignment in Bronx criminal court. Wearing a blue T-shirt and
jeans, he didn't speak during the brief proceedings and wasn't
required to enter a plea.
According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Evangelista, from the
Bronx, faces seven felony charges, including attempted aggravated
assault on a police officer, two counts of attempted murder and
other assault charges following an incident Saturday evening.
"He intentionally ran down a uniformed NYPD officer, rammed him,
essentially, with a 1-ton weapon with wheels." said Bronx Assistant
District Attorney Georgia Barker.
Amy Gallicchio, an attorney for Mr. Evangelista, said her client
"adamantly denies the allegations and any involvement
whatsoever."
Mark Morales
Cuomo Chides de Blasio For His Public Remarks
Gov. Andrew Cuomo responded Tuesday to criticism directed at him
by Mayor Bill de Blasio a week earlier.
The governor said the mayor was "obviously frustrated" with the
outcome of Albany's legislative session and suggested he didn't
know how to compromise. Mr. Cuomo also chided Mr. de Blasio for
choosing to "air his frustration publicly."
Mr. Cuomo had largely ignored Mr. de Blasio's comments until
Tuesday.
The mayor last week voiced his grievances over how New York City
fared in the Albany session that had just ended. He said Mr. Cuomo,
a fellow Democrat, had disappointed him "at every turn" and carries
out a "vendetta" against those who oppose him.
Mr. De Blasio also said he was angry at Mr. Cuomo over his role
in the legislature reauthorizing the extension of mayoral control
of city schools by just one year. Mr. de Blasio had initially asked
for permanent control.
"But renewal for one year is better than expiration, right?" Mr.
Cuomo said Tuesday. "But next year we come back and, if he does a
good job, then we can say he should have more control."
Mr. de Blasio is on a weeklong, out-of-state vacation that began
hours after he attacked Mr. Cuomo, but his press secretary said his
comments from last week stand.
Associated Press
Christie Signs Measure Increasing Tax Credit
Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday signed legislation increasing a
tax credit for lower-income residents in New Jersey.
The new law increases the state's earned income tax credit from
20% to 30% of a similar federal rebate.
The Christie administration said this would benefit about
500,000 residents, with the credit rising from about $420 to
$630.
The Republican governor said families with income up to $52,000
a year and single adults earning up to $47,000, could be eligible
for the credit, depending on how many dependent children are in
their household.
Democrats, who control the Legislature, had proposed increasing
the rate from 20% to 25%, but Mr. Christie countered with 30% after
lowering it in his first term.
Associated Press
Schumer: IPhone Case Resembling Gun Illegal
Sen. Charles Schumer spoke out Tuesday against an iPhone case
shaped to look like a 9mm firearm, saying the sale and distribution
of the mock weapon is illegal.
Mr. Schumer cited a federal law that states an orange plug
should be inserted into the barrel of a replica gun to denote it
isn't a real firearm. The lack of the plug makes the weapon illegal
to sell and transport, the Democrat said.
"If a police officer thinks that a person holding this case is a
threat, what are they going to do? It's certainly going to result
in an unneeded confrontation because there really is no danger, but
how would they know?" said Mr. Schumer. "
The "gun grip case" is made to look exactly like a firearm, with
the grip, trigger and barrel of a weapon. The phone can be placed
in a case that runs along the top of the replica firearm. It
retails anywhere between $5 and $50 and can be found on retail
sites such as eBay and Amazon, according to Sen. Schumer.
New York Police Department Deputy Chief Kim Royster said Police
Commissioner William Bratton fully supports a ban on the sale of
such iPhone cases.
"This Idea is not only dangerous, but socially irresponsible,"
said Deputy Chief Royster.
Mark Morales
Food-Stamp Applicants Can Sue Over Delays
A federal appeals court said people applying for food stamps in
Connecticut can sue the state over delays in processing their
applications.
Greater Hartford Legal Aid said Tuesday that the decision from
the Second Circuit Court of Appeals means plaintiffs can now seek
permanent relief from the court, requiring the state's Department
of Social Services to process food stamps applications on a timely
basis. Federal law requires the department to process applications
in 30 days, or seven days in cases of dire need.
The Department of Social Services said it was reviewing the
court decision. While disappointed in the ruling, released on
Monday, the agency said it had made "tremendous improvement" in
processing applications and issuing accurate payments. More than
230,000 eligible households in Connecticut receive the federal
benefit.
Associated Press