Mount Vernon official drove son from Bronx shooting, DA says
MOUNT VERNON, New York (WABC) -- Mount Vernon's deputy commissioner of public safety was arrested for allegedly being the getaway driver for her son, who is accused of shooting at a rival gang member earlier this summer.
Jennifer Lackard, 49, and her son, 20-year-old Chase Lackard, were arrested at their home on Boynton Avenue on Tuesday morning.
Her son, who is an alleged gang member, is accused of opening fire from a vehicle on June 29 behind the Bronx Criminal Courthouse at East 162nd Street and Grand Avenue.
The shooting is linked to an ongoing gang dispute. Chase was allegedly aiming at another man who was with a rival gang, but did not strike anyone.
Jennifer Lackard is accused of being behind the wheel at the time and driving away to help him flee the scene.
Prosecutors said this shooting was also caught on surveillance, and there were text messages. Chase allegedly told his mother to wait for him outside the building.
"She responded, 'When?? You can't just be standing out front. The timing has to be right,'" a prosecutor said in court.
The mother and son were both charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy and reckless endangerment.
The city of Mount Vernon released a statement saying Jennifer Lackard's employment has been terminated.
"The allegations are unrelated to her duties with the Mount Vernon Police Department and do not stem from any conduct associated with the Department or the performance of her official responsibilities," the statement said in part.
Jennifer Lackard was appointed as deputy commissioner of wellness for the city of Mount Vernon in 2020 during the George Floyd protests.
She has been lauded for her advocacy work with re-entry programs and served two terms on Community Board 9 in the Bronx.
Her son has a history with the NYPD and has been shot by police on two occasions.
Jennifer Lackard pleaded not guilty to the indictment. In court, her attorney said the picture painted by prosecutors is completely different from her life and career.
"Ms. Lackard has for 20 years dedicated her professional life to the health and healing of impacted communities," her attorney said.
Bail was set at $75,000, and she will be back in court in September.
Court documents say Jennifer Lackard's ex-husband, and Chase's father, James Lackard, was also in the vehicle. There's no word yet on charges for him.
Chase Lackard was due back in court Tuesday night on the same charges as his mother.
This is not the first time the 20-year-old has been arrested.
A chilling surveillance image from November 2024 shows the then 19-year old pointing a gun at an NYPD officer in the Bronx.
An officer shot him in the leg that rainy night, and he was arrested on weapons and menacing charges.
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