NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) –A Queens man was sentenced to prison on Tuesday after firing an assault rifle at an NYPD officer responding to a domestic violence call received from the suspect's girlfriend nearly four years ago, prosecutors said.
The suspect, Rodolfo Montero, 29, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced.
On Sept. 13, 2020, Montero and his girlfriend were arguing in their home on 125th St. in College Point, Queens, when Montero pulled out a rifle and threatened to kill her, according to court documents.
He then put his hands on her and tried to choke her in front of their 1-year-old child, according to court documents. He then continued to punch her in the face. When Montero's mother tried to intervene, he slapped her in the face, according to prosecutors.
The victim and Montero's mother took the child, ran away and called police, according to the indictment.
Cops came to the house around 4:30 p.m. and uniformed police officers got out of their patrol car. Montero fired a couple of rounds from his assault rifle from the second-floor window of this house, according to court documents.
The shots did not hit any officers, just a car behind them.
Montero continued to fire from the first-floor window before leaving the house and eventually surrendering.
An assault rifle and other ballistic evidence were recovered from the residence.
"The officers risked their lives," Katz said. "Thankfully, they were not injured. The women in the defendant's life were also clearly victims. I urge those being impacted by domestic violence to contact us before it's too late. If you need safety planning services, or help in securing an order of protection or shelter placement, call our 24-hour DV Helpline, at 718-286-4410."
Montero pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the second degree and was sentenced to prison.
