Retired Greenburgh cop resting at home after being shot while confronting burglars; 2 charged

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (WABC) -- A retired Greenburgh police officer is recovering at home Tuesday after being shot twice while confronting a pair of burglary suspects.

Meanwhile, the two men charged in the case faced a Westchester County judge on attempted murder charges.

The incident happened on Payne Street in the Elmsford section of the township around 3:45 p.m. Monday, when police say retired officer Peter Schmidt approached 34-year-old Taqiy Walton and 20-year-old Adam Larreque as they were walking from the rear of neighbor's home.

Schmidt lives in the neighborhood and knew the house was unoccupied at the time, and after a brief discussion, police say one of the suspects shot Schmidt in the arm and torso.

Schmidt's son, an active Greenburgh police officer who was off-duty at the time, ran to the scene and spotted the suspects fleeing in a blue BMW. He relayed the information to Greenburgh police, and within minutes, Yonkers police had the vehicle stopped on the Sprain Brook Parkway in the area of the Cross County Parkway.

"This is an example of an outstanding and brave act by retired police officer Peter, Sr., and his son, police officer Peter, Jr.," Chief Chris McNerney said.

It was three years ago this month that Peter, Sr., congratulated his son on following in his footsteps and joining the Greenburgh Police Department.

The suspects were positively identified and placed under arrest.

The elder Schmidt was treated at Westchester Medical Center and released, and Eyewitness News was there exclusively when a caravan of police cars escorted Schmidt back to his home. He stood talking to other detectives and officers for a brief time in his driveway, his arm in a sling, then walked to the door with a Greenburgh official, pausing for moment on the front porch.

Walton and Larreque, both in handcuffs and shackles, were led from police headquarters Tuesday to Greenburgh Town Court, each facing charges of second-degree attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.