Woman charged in pellet gun shooting of NYPD detective in Jamaica, Queens

Kemberly Richardson Image
Monday, October 17, 2016
Suspect in custody for pellet gun shooting of NYPD detective in Queens
Kemberly Richardson has more from Kew Gardens.

JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) -- A Long Island woman is in custody in connection with the pellet gun shooting of an NYPD detective in Jamaica, Queens.

Police say 24-year-old Tiara Ferebee of Riverhead shot the detective in the head last week while he was sitting in an unmarked car with his window down.

Ferebee is facing several charges, including attempted murder of a police officer and assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon.

The detective was not seriously hurt.

According to police, the plainclothes detective was in an unmarked police vehicle westbound on Jamaica Avenue and 168 Street, when Ferebee, sitting in the rear of a Nissan Altima, opened fire from a pellet gun, striking the officer on his forehead.

The vehicle fled in an unknown direction. The make and license plate led investigators to Ferebee.

"I don't know if I had a gun. I don't remember. I don't know and I don't remember if I discharged a gun in the car. You know why you have me here. Just book me." Ferrebee said, according to court papers.

She has been ordered jailed on $1 million bond, or $500,000 bail.

Meanwhile, four pellet gun shootings on Long Island last Wednesday night are now linked. In all four incidents, shots were fired from a brown Nissan Altima. All occurred on or near the Southern State Parkway or Sunrise Highway.

State Police are now distributing a photo of the vehicle involved in the Queens incident and asking for any witnesses to the Long Island incidents to come forward, "due to the similarities between the NYPD's investigation into a pellet gun incident in Queens and the incidents in both Suffolk and Nassau Counties."

The prosecutor also said video exists connecting the Altima to the shooting.

Last Wednesday, three cars driving along Sunrise Highway in the Town of Southampton had their windows shot out by pellet guns. None of the drivers were injured. The incidents are under investigation by State Police and Southampton Town police.