3 charged in crash during police chase involving Bronx shooting

BRONX, N.Y. (WABC) -- Three men have been charged after a police chase, crash and shooting that left three people hurt in the Bronx Monday.

Security cameras at 167th and Intervale in Morrisania captured the chase's violent end around 4 p.m. Three men in a Magnum opened fire on a man in front of a nearby senior citizens home, but missed, police said.

Two police officers witnessed the shooting, and tried to pull the Magnum over, only to have the men flee up to 70 miles per hour. The Magnum hit one car before narrowly missing a school bus and slamming into a 1995 Honda Civic.

"We just heard it like 'whoom,'" said Michael Smith, an eyewitness. "And that's when the crash happened."

Smith watched as the Magnum sailed through a red light and plowed into the Honda. "Sounded like a shotgun blast," he said.

The impact spun the car around, and sent the Honda driver, a 76-year-old man, to the hospital with injuries to his neck. He is stable.

"You heard the guy in this car here yelling, 'Help, help,'" said Donna Dorns, an eyewitness. Dorns said the three "jumped out of their car and ... and the other cops on foot ran to chase them down."

Three people were injured in Monday's incident. A 50-year-old woman, a passenger in a 2010 Toyota livery cab, was taken to an area hospital and is stable. A 61-year-old man, who was driving the cab, at the scene refused medical attention.

Police caught up to all three men and recovered a gun, allegedly dumped as they tried to flee. The alleged trigger man and his two accomplices now face several charges.

Kevin Otero, 20, of the Bronx, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Dennis Sierra, 20, of the Bronx, was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon, and Louis Sierra, 18, of the Bronx, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

They are waiting for arraignment.