NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz appealed to the public on Wednesday for information regarding the fatal shooting of off-duty New York City correction officer John Jeff in 2020, offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to prosecution.
The district attorney’s office released surveillance video from the Aug. 15, 2020 incident that was caught on a nearby security camera in the hope that it jogs someone’s memory.
“He was a young man who was dedicated to being a public servant,” Katz told 1010 WINS. “He was shot at 3:05 in the morning, and we are looking for witnesses who may have either seen the shooting or know information about it.”
Jeff, 28, was shot in the head, torso, left arm and left leg at the corner of Defoe and Ridgedale streets in Springfield Gardens, prosecutors said. He was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead at 3:37 a.m.
Right before the shooting, Jeff was a passenger in a black Chevy Malibu being driven by a female friend and coworker. The Malibu was briefly pulled over at a fire hydrant when it was blocked by a garbage truck to the front and a black Mercedes and blue BMW from the back.
Jeff exited the vehicle to ask the drivers behind them to back up, but a verbal altercation broke out with the occupants of the Mercedes. He identified himself as an officer, pulled out a gun, and the Mercedes reversed, allowing Jeff to get back into the Malibu and his friend to make a left turn onto Defoe Street.
Seconds later, prosecutors said that the Malibu was blocked a second time by a white Infinity traveling in the opposite direction. Someone tapped the car, prompting Jeff to exit the vehicle again, and another argument ensued.
At the time, people from a nearby house party had begun to gather, officials said.
Gun fire broke out moments later and the Mercedes, BMS and Infinity fled the scene. Jeff was suffered eight gunshot wounds, which caused his death.
“There was a house party that was happening several hundred feet away. There were many people from this house party that came onto the street,” Katz said. “We are hoping that someone came out with their video, with their cameras rolling, in order to see what was going on.”
According to Katz, “with time, people are sometimes more willing to come forward.” She hopes that the surveillance video could remind someone of whether or not they were there.
“This happened during COVID, so people will remember going to a house party, they will remember something of the significance happening in the area of the house party they were at,” Katz said.
Thirteen spent shell casings, along with two fired bullets, one deformed bullet and two live cartridges, were found at the scene.
Later analysis determined that they were fired from two different guns, prosecutors said.
According to the district attorney’s office, Jeff may have been shot with his own gun after being shot with the assailant’s weapon.
When he was discovered Jeff’s holster was empty, and his service weapon was not found at the scene.
“The family deserves to have justice, and they deserve to know why their son and family member was killed,” Katz said. “And so we would hope that as soon as possible, people come forward with any tips or help or video that they may have.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or via the online link.