NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Bronx man was charged with attempted murder on Wednesday following a road rage incident that led to him shooting toward an off-duty officer on Long Island last month, prosecutors said.
The incident happened on Sept. 17, around 12:20 a.m., when the off-duty detective was driving eastbound on the Long Island Expressway near the Cross Island Parkway when he passed a white Mercedes-Benz, driven by Alexis Morillo, 40, according to prosecutors.
The detective then moved back into the left lane and Morillo pulled up next to him and allegedly started to shout aggressively.
Moments later, gunshots were heard and the detective realized that his car had been hit on the passenger side.
The detective then followed Morillo's car as he headed towards an exit. The detective was able to get Morillo's license plate number to call 911 to file a complaint.
The chase continued into the Horace Harding Expressway where Morillo managed to get away.
"A police detective nearly lost his life in a mindless act of violence," District Attorney Melinda Katz said. " We cannot relent in our efforts to get guns off the street and will continue to do all we can to keep our detectives and communities safe."
An investigation revealed a bullet hole in the front passenger side panel of the detective's vehicle, inside of which a bullet fragment was found.
Morillo's car was later found abandoned in Astoria, prosecutors said.
According to the detectives, phone records showed that Morillo allegedly called an Uber to go from Astoria back to his home in Bronx after the incident.
Morillo was charged with a six-count indictment, including attempted murder in the second degree, attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, reckless driving, and unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree.
If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
